CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is caused by the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) released from burning fossil fuels and from land use change, particularly the removal of forests which accounts for almost 20% of global emissions (more than the transport industry). The countries that developed first, for example the UK, US and France, have emitted vastly more GHGs then the countries currently called ‘developing’, such as Kenya, Namibia and Bangladesh.

Ironically, scientists say that it is the developing countries that will be hardest hit; African countries in particular. A just response to climate change must therefore include a comprehensive compensation package from the developed countries that have polluted the most to the developing countries whose total historical emissions are very low and are the most affected.. Climate change isn’t just about the ‘environment’. People around the world are suffering the effects of climate change now, and for these people climate change is an issue of justice.

The urgency of now
Earth’s climatic systems are incredibly complex. Despite an increasing intensity of work by scientists around the world details of how a warmer world will impact climate, the facts are elusive. In the face of uncertainly climate scientists have drawn a line in the sand. Consensus is that an average surface temperature rise of the planet by more than 2° Celsius would have catastrophic effects for the biosphere and humanity’s place in it.

In order to avoid temperature increases of more than 2° Celsius and dangerous runaway climate change we must reduce emissions by something in the region of 80% by 2050. Given population increases over this time this is really the same as saying we must become carbon neutral.

Failure to act now will be catastrophic. This means that we are the only generation of humans ever who are able to effectively respond to this challenge. The decisions we make today will have a greater impact on the future of the planet then the decisions made by any previous generation. We have to get it right!

If not us, who? If not now, when?
THINK ABOUT IT, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU HAVE THE POWER IN YOU!

Global Warming Causes and Effects

Go Vegetarian or Vegan! (Going Green)

Going green is to go vegetarian or vegan, but doing so isn’t just about greening the planet and saving animals — it improves your life as well.

This is a pretty controversial one. But when it comes to going green, going vegetarian or going vegan may be the biggest thing you can do, so it would be a crime not to list it.
The good thing is, there are a lot of reasons why going vegetarian or vegan is good for you, not only for the planet and the animals whose lives you save.

Health and Happiness Benefits of Going Vegetarian

A new study shows that vegetarians are happier! Not a bad reason to go vegetarian. Who doesn’t want to be happier?
Vegetarians also live longer, studies have shown, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) now recommends a vegetarian diet for its health benefits. So, if you’re interested in living a healthier life & living longer, this is one potential way you can do so.
If you’re still not convinced that it is healthier, check out some of the top athletes and fit celebrities who are (or were) vegetarian or vegan, including:

• Carl Lewis (“Athlete of the Century” last century)
• Elle Macpherson (“The Body”)
• Andre 3000
• Billie Jean King (tennis great)
• Ricky Williams (yes, the star football running back)
• Hank Aaron
• Shania Twain
• Christain Bale
• Josh Hartnett
• Orlando Bloom
• Kristin Bell
• ok, maybe not the most fit, but hard to leave him out — Albert Einstein
• many more…

Also, if you missed the news this week, studies have found babies growing breasts due to the growth hormones they put in cows these days (and those hormones making it into babies’ infant formulas).

How Much Greener is Going Vegetarian or Vegan?

Want some facts on how going vegetarian or vegan equates to going green? Here are a few:

• eating meat is essentially the third largest net contributor to global warming pollution in the world (behind using motor vehicles and burning household biofuels — mostly wood and animal dung), according to NASA;
• a few years ago the United Nations found livestock production to be responsible for 18% of global warming pollution, but more recently the World Watch Institute has found it to be responsible for as much as 51% of global warming pollution;
• the energy needed to produce meat and dairy is tremendously more than for most fruits and vegetables (graphs and charts here)
• the amount of water needed for meat and dairy production is also much greater.

So, if you’re interested in going green (and possibly even being healthier and happier), go vegetarian or vegan.