The evidence that humans are causing global warming is strong, but the question of what to do about it remains controversial. Economics, sociology, and politics are all important factors in planning for the future.
Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) today, the Earth would still warm by another degree Fahrenheit or so. But what we do from today forward makes a big difference. Depending on our choices, scientists predict that the Earth could eventually warm by as little as 2.5 degrees or as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
A commonly cited goal is to stabilize GHG concentrations around 450-550 parts per million (ppm), or about twice pre-industrial levels. This is the point at which many believe the most damaging impacts of climate change can be avoided. Current concentrations are about 380 ppm, which means there isn't much time to lose. According to the IPCC, we'd have to reduce GHG emissions by 50% to 80% of what they're on track to be in the next century to reach this level.
Is this possible?
Many people and governments are already working hard to cut greenhouse gases, and everyone can help.
Researchers Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow at Princeton University have suggested one approach that they call "stabilization wedges." This means reducing GHG emissions from a variety of sources with technologies available in the next few decades, rather than relying on an enormous change in a single area. They suggest 7 wedges that could each reduce emissions, and all of them together could hold emissions at approximately current levels for the next 50 years, putting us on a potential path to stabilize around 500 ppm.
There are many possible wedges, including improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy (so less energy has to be produced), and increases in wind and solar power, hydrogen produced from renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops), natural gas, and nuclear power. There is also the potential to capture the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels and store it underground—a process called "carbon sequestration."
In addition to reducing the gases we emit to the atmosphere, we can also increase the amount of gases we take out of the atmosphere. Plants and trees absorb CO2 as they grow, "sequestering" carbon naturally. Increasing forestlands and making changes to the way we farm could increase the amount of carbon we're storing.
Some of these technologies have drawbacks, and different communities will make different decisions about how to power their lives, but the good news is that there are a variety of options to put us on a path toward a stable climate.
หลักฐานที่มนุษย์ทำให้เกิดภาวะโลกร้อนมีความแข็งแรง แต่คำถามที่ไม่เกี่ยวกับมันยังคงแย้ง เศรษฐศาสตร์ สังคมวิทยา และการเมืองเป็นปัจจัยสำคัญทั้งในการวางแผนสำหรับอนาคตแม้เราหยุดเปล่งก๊าซเรือนกระจก (GHGs) วันนี้ โลกจะยังคงอบอุ่น ด้วยองศาฟาเรนไฮต์หรืออื่นนั้น แต่สิ่งเราวันนี้ต่อจากทำให้เกิดความแตกต่าง ขึ้นอยู่กับตัวเลือกของเรา นักวิทยาศาสตร์ทำนายว่า โลกสามารถอบอุ่นในที่สุด โดยเป็น 2.5 องศาหรือถึง 10 องศาฟาเรนไฮต์เป้าหมายอ้างอิงโดยทั่วไปจะมุ่งความเข้มข้นปริมาณรอบ 450-550 ส่วนต่อล้าน (ppm), หรือ เกี่ยวกับสองอุตสาหกรรมระดับ นี้เป็นจุดที่หลายคนเชื่อว่า สามารถหลีกเลี่ยงผลกระทบความเสียหายมากที่สุดของการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ ปัจจุบันความเข้มข้นประมาณ 380 ppm ซึ่งหมายความว่า ไม่เสียเวลามาก ตาม IPCC เราจะต้องลดการปล่อยก๊าซ GHG โดย 50% ถึง 80% ของพวกเขากำลังติดตามอยู่ในศตวรรษต่อไปถึงระดับนี้นี่เป็นไปได้หรือไม่หลายคนและรัฐบาลจะได้ทำงานอย่างหนักเพื่อลดก๊าซเรือนกระจก และทุกคนสามารถช่วยResearchers Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow at Princeton University have suggested one approach that they call "stabilization wedges." This means reducing GHG emissions from a variety of sources with technologies available in the next few decades, rather than relying on an enormous change in a single area. They suggest 7 wedges that could each reduce emissions, and all of them together could hold emissions at approximately current levels for the next 50 years, putting us on a potential path to stabilize around 500 ppm.There are many possible wedges, including improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy (so less energy has to be produced), and increases in wind and solar power, hydrogen produced from renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops), natural gas, and nuclear power. There is also the potential to capture the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels and store it underground—a process called "carbon sequestration."In addition to reducing the gases we emit to the atmosphere, we can also increase the amount of gases we take out of the atmosphere. Plants and trees absorb CO2 as they grow, "sequestering" carbon naturally. Increasing forestlands and making changes to the way we farm could increase the amount of carbon we're storing.Some of these technologies have drawbacks, and different communities will make different decisions about how to power their lives, but the good news is that there are a variety of options to put us on a path toward a stable climate.
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