Transcript Slajd 1 - Friends of the Earth International

Greenhouse
Effect
The climate of Earth is favorable to the development
of varied forms of plant and animal life and these
organisms in turn help regulate the climate through
natural processes in the bio-sphere.
This delicate balance ensures that the Earth
supports human life. Critical to maintaining
this balance are global temperatures.
If this balance were to change the
resulting climate might not be favorable
for humans. The key to maintaining a
stable climate is the greenhouse gases of
which carbon is the most important.
The concentration of carbon in the
atmosphere currently stands at 380 parts
per million…higher than in any period in
the last 650 000 years. Scientists predict
that once we reach 450 parts per million
rapid and unavoidable climate change will
happen.
The Greenhouse Effect!
The manner in which the atmosphere
absorbs heat is called Greenhouse Effect.
Without it the temperature of the planet
would be less than -20°C and life as we
know it today not exist. The greenhouse
effect was necessary for the evolution of
human life and for our continued existence.
However, if the conditions in the
‘greenhouse’ alter and become unbalanced
the resulting climate change can create
conditions unsuitable for human life.
What are Greenhouse Gases?
There are many gases that affect the atmosphere’s
capacity to absorb the heat from the sun. These are
called greenhouse gases. These ratios in the
atmosphere are:
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) 60%
• Methane (CH₄)
15%
• Freon (CCl₃F₂)
12%
• Ozon (O₃)
8%
• Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
5%
An unbalanced system.
As a result of increasing population growth and
increased human atmospheric pollution since
the beginning of the industrial revolution the
greenhouse effect has increased resulting in a
rise in global temperatures.
Over the last century global temperatures
rose by about 0,7°C. The United Nations
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change predicts a further warming of 1,55,5°C by 2100. A rise of only 2°C is
predicted to result in irreversible climate
change! Rising temperatures can be
mitigated by the Earth’s natural regulatory
systems, but only over millions of years.
The rapid climate change experienced
today cannot be ameliorated in the short
term as eco-systems will not have time to
adapt.
Human activity and natural sources
of Carbon Dioxide.
Even without human activity the planet
would produce CO₂ from natural sources
such as forest fires or volcanic eruptions.
These types of CO₂ emissions are
sometimes known as natural pollution.
The Earth absorbs this natural pollution
through the carbon cycle and prevents
climate change.
Human activity, primarily the demand for
energy, is producing more CO₂ than the
planet has the ability to cope with. In
addition to increasing the amount of CO₂
in the atmosphere human activity is
reducing the ability of the earth to absorb
it through the destruction of natural
habitats such as rainforests, thus causing
a double problem.
Source of CO2 in Poland
CO2 Emissions by Sector, Poland
Electricity and Heat
Production
57%
Other Energy Industries
4%
Manufacturing and
Construction
Transportation
11%
Residences
11%
Other Sectors
0%
sourse: EarthTrends
17%
Carbon dioxide causes 25% of the
greenhouse effect and accounts for 62%
of human induced warming. Human
activity produces about 8 billion tonnes of
CO2 per year!
Wykorzystano zdjęcia:
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www.hansgrohe.pl
www.paroc.pl
www.izolacje.com.pl
www.ecoponidzie.wordpress.com
www.miltendrin.pl
www.goldenline.pl
www.knowledge.alliannz.com
www.kidsgen.com
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Thank you for your attention!!!!