Going green simply means the idea of implementing various ways in our daily life that contribute to the protection of our surrounding and entails several aspects from newspaper recycling to living a lifestyle that is fully green. The green movement of the present day has been underway for many years, and it has become more popular because of the population growth effect whose evident result is global warming and increased scientific research ability. With the new equipment and technologies, scenarios that affect our surrounding can be measured and evaluated by research and our lives will be affected. Sometimes research reports tend to be fascinating and informative and at the time they can make you feel very guilty if you dispose of a glass or can in a manner that is not friendly to the environment (Armentrout, 2009). For example, you save sufficient electricity to power a television for about seven hours if you recycle a single aluminum. In case you are living a green lifestyle by being an avid recycler, you are applauded and thanked by the planet we live.
Global warming or climate change can be caused by factors related to natural processes as well as those related to human activities. The natural factors which are external to the climate system and can affect the climate of the earth include but not limited to changes in solar output, orbit of the earth around the sun and volcanic activity. Changes in solar radiation and changes in volcanic activity affects the energy balance of the earth in the sense that they influence the amount of incoming energy. Human activities play a very big role in contributing to global warming. The 19th-century industrial revolution entailed the large scale usage of fossil fuels for activities in industries that created employment opportunities and people migrated from rural to urban areas. The situation is still the case in the present world. There has been increased the rate of deforestation to create space for houses, and natural resources are extensively being used for transport, consumption, construction and industries.
It is worth noting that all these human activities have significantly contributed to increased amount of greenhouse gasses in the earth atmosphere (Armentrout, 2009). Most fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil supply most of the required energy to generate electricity for industries, run vehicles as well as household use among others. Typically, the energy sector accounts for about three-quarter of carbon dioxide emission, the large amount of nitrous oxide and a fifth of the methane emissions. It is worth noting that carbon dioxide is the most crucial greenhouse gas in the earth atmosphere. Increase in the emission of this gas result from deforestation, agriculture, land clearing and changes in the pattern of land use among many other activities.
As humans, we contribute to environment degradation, which results to global warming everyday through many ways. For instance, in urban areas electricity is the major source of power. All our electric gadgets run on electricity that is mainly generated from the thermal power plants, which are run on fossils and are responsible greenhouse gasses emission. To add on that, busses, trucks, and cars are the major means of transporting people and good in most towns, and all these mainly use diesel or petrol, both of which are fossil fuels. Furthermore, we use timber in large quantities for house construction, meaning that large areas of forest have actually been cut down. An increasing population has simply meant need to feed more mouths. Since there is availability of limited land for agriculture, people have opted to grow high yielding variety of crop in order to increase agricultural output. Unfortunately, there is high usage of fertilizer that emits nitrous oxide hence contributing to global warming.
Global warming is associated with several effects to the world around us and human health. In terms of the environment, it is worth noting that there is a loss of biodiversity due to global warming (Environmental Issues in Pacific Northwest Forest Management, 2000). Many species are at high risk of extinction from acidifying oceans, changing ecosystem and disappearing habitat. For instance, there is a decline in polar bears considering that the arctic sea ice is there feeding habitat hence their mortality increases following the disappearance of sea ice. To add on that, it is good to know that the oceans absorb almost one-third of the carbon dioxide pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks hence forming carbonic acid. There is also the impact of coral bleaching since coral reefs are very much sensitive to small changes in temperature of the water. It is also important to note that animals and plants are shifting their ranges to higher altitudes due to increasing in mercury. This is disrupting the migration patterns for animals as diverse as butterflies and whales.
Climate and weather plays a crucial role in the health of people. Climate change usually affects the average conditions of weather that we are accustomed to. For instance, there is the likelihood for the existence of longer and frequent heat waves due to warmer average temperatures which could raise the number of heat-related deaths and illness (Going Green: The Logistics Dilemma; Survey into the Impact of Environmental Issues on Logistics Operations, 1993). It is worth noting that increases in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events like storms could raise the risk of dangerous high winds, flooding and many other direct threats to property and people. A warmer temperature is likely to raise the concentrations of harmful water and air pollutants. There is some disease that spread faster due to changes in precipitation patterns, temperature, and extreme events. Disease-causing agents can be transmitted via water, food, and animals like birds, insects, mice and deer. All these transmitters could be affected by change in climate. For instance, higher temperature can raise the cases of salmonella as well as many other food poisoning related to bacteria. This is because warm environments favor the rapid growth of bacteria. To add on that, it is good to know that heavy rainfall and flooding may result to overflows from sewage into fresh water sources hence causing contamination.
Flooding or heavy rainfall can raise waterborne parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium, which can result to gastrointestinal distress or even death in severe cases. Furthermore, changes in precipitation and temperature as well as floods and droughts will likely affect the agricultural productions and yields which may compromise food security. Especially in less developed countries hence threatening human health via food poisoning, infectious diseases, and malnutrition.
There are several ways of going green. For instance, you may go green by opting to switch to shopping bags that are reusable. These are becoming more famous, and you can freely acquire them as groups and businesses give them out as marketing promos. Currently, majority of the stores are charging five cents for each bag. That is over ten dollars in a year even if you are only in need of four bags every week for groceries. There are several minor lifestyle changes that enhance the concept of going green. These include but not limited to conserving energy, reducing demand for energy and recycling. Decreasing the manner in which we consume energy is an excellent way of going green. It is worth noting that when we conserve energy, it means that we are saving ourselves on costs as well as acting in the best interests of our planet.
The very first step to decreasing our demand for energy is to consider conserving energy the best way possible. However, many people can conserve a lot of it without necessarily altering their lifestyles completely. Therefore, switching to renewable energy is another great way of reducing demand for energy. In case you buy a new home, it is worth opting for one that is energy efficient in the sense that it was built the green building methods or have solar panels installed on top of the present house. It is worth choosing from a rising number of low carbon emitting cars available on the market that burn fossil fuel and give out less harmful gasses compared to their conventional counterparts. The recycling technique is a no cost and easy way of going green and prolongs the lifespan of all natural resources. It can also decrease the effect caused by harmful waste products on our surrounding. Recycling also decreases the amount of pollution as well as limiting the harmful gasses which afflict the atmosphere of the earth. Furthermore, it allows the products to become reusable hence need for less energy as well as fewer resources in production compared to the new products.
The major changes to lifestyle that enhances going green include but not limited to voluntary simplicity, permaculture, and community. Voluntary simplicity refers to a lifestyle that advocates living simply with fewer material belongings. Simple living not only leads to a higher life quality but also results to a favorable impact on the surrounding. This kind of lifestyle requires that the cheap material possessions. Permaculture concerns about working with nature instead of going against it and incorporate agricultural systems and sustainable human settlements into a single whole ecosystem (Howson, 1993). This are done via organic, natural farming methods like design techniques such as green building and renewable energy as well as agroforestry, whereby the benefits of livestock is integrated with crops and livestock. The formation of an international community with all others who want to live sustainably is a great way of going green. By working with right-minded people, it is worth noting that the community can do a lot to benefit the surrounding compared to what can be done by an individual.
It is also important to consider making our commute green. Transportation results to about twenty-five percent of greenhouse gas emissions hence it is worth considering cycling or just walking (Manuel, Smith, and McElroy, 1999). Doing this will not only help you save money but also get you into a better shape. Stopping global warming also requires that you be energy efficient. For example, consider unplugging televisions, computers as well as any other kind of electronic in case it is not being used. When purchasing new appliances, always look for the energy star label. It is also important that you consider choosing renewable power such as wind-generated electricity. You should also eat wisely by considering locally grown and organic foods instead of processed items. Avoid too much consumption of meat since eighteen percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from dairy and meat production. The governments should impose heavy taxes on factories that the polluted environment through harmful gas emission. It will discourage them in such actions. There should also be strict laws and regulation regarding any human activities such as deforestation that is a threat to climate. It is also a good idea to trim waste as a way of going green and preventing global warming. Consider keeping garbage out of landfills by recycling papers, metal, glass, and plastic as well as composting kitchen scraps.
Since air travel leaves behind a huge footprint of carbon, people should consider flying less. They may instead consider greener options like trains or buses. People should get involved as individuals in preventing global warming. For example, one may take some time to call the media and tell them about your need for immediate action on global warming. Inform them about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in building a healthier community, creating new jobs and spurring economic innovation. There are several organizations all over the world work very hard on a solution to global warming and other environmental issues and depend on financial support from well-wishers(Middleton, 1995). Therefore supporting and donating will be an excellent step toward preventing global warming.
Because there are over seven billion people on our planet, the impact of humankind on the surrounding is very big. Fortunately, ways of going green are raising. The available companies are making design of less energy intensive versions of their present products, and there has been increasing awareness of environmental issues. By uniting in the adoption of lifestyle that is conscious to the environment, we can significantly decrease our impact on the surrounding.
CONCLUSION:
It is the responsibility of all the individuals to ensure that they have a green surrounding irrespective of the natural conditions that surround them. There are situations where the effects of natural calamities that cannot be controlled affect the nature of human settlement and the way in which the green environment persists. Therefore, there should be human activities to be spearheaded to ensure that there are means to keep the environment clean. Some of the methods that may be applied to ensure that the environment is kept green is to ensure that during the rainy season effective rain harvesting methods are imposed to collect enough water. The water can then be channeled through irrigation systems in order to save the situation of the environment. Maintaining a green environment in the end will even lead to more rain and a pure environment by offering fresh air for the human kind. A green environment calls for a certain level of competency by individuals that must be maintained to save the situation.
Works Cited
Armentrout, David, and Patricia Armentrout. Going Green. Vero Beach: Rourke Pub, 2009. Print.
Environmental Issues in Pacific Northwest Forest Management. Washington: National Academy Press, 2000. Print.
Going Green: The Logistics Dilemma; Survey into the Impact of Environmental Issues on Logistics Operations. P-E International, 1993. Print.
Howson, John. Going Green. Wayland [in association with] Friends of the Earth, 1993. Print.
Manuel, Mark, Roger Smith, and Barrie McElroy. Environmental Issues. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1999. Print.
Middleton, Nick. The Global Casino: An Introduction to Environmental Issues. London: E. Arnold, 1995. Print.
