New Solutions to Climate Change: We Have to Change
You might think humanity is finally learning and taking responsibility for the damage that has been done to the ozone layer. Unfortunately, despite most people being more aware about the environment, we still emitted over 43 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 2019. Even worse, is the fact that this was actually a 16% increase on the year before!
Those gases resulted from us burning fossil fuels in order to power our way of life. The energy that we use, the transportation we need to get around, and even the water that is pumped into our homes all relies on the burning of these fossil fuels.
Ironically, 2019 was the second hottest year in recorded history. The earth has only ever had a higher average temperature once before! Who is to blame for earth getting warmer? You know the answer; we are. We have caused most of the excessive heat.
The result of a warmer earth? More extreme weather such as heatwaves, flooding, tornadoes, and typhoons. If we do not make a change soon, we will reap what we sow at an ever-increasing rate of knots. We need alternative solutions to climate change and fast.
The good news is that we are trying to address climate change globally. There have been many new solutions that have been implemented that are reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and other pollutants that damage the ozone.
The following are just some effective solutions that governments around the world have implemented hoping to reduce and even reverse the damage to the ozone layer.
Renewable Energy
One of the biggest challenges in the fight against climate change is how we generate our power. Coal and gas are big no-no’s as they negatively harm the environment too much and send pollutants into the ozone. Globally, big strides have been made, but we are still reliant on them for 60% of the world's electricity.
Fortunately, our reliance is decreasing each year. Wind, solar, and hydropower, in particular, are now providing us with increasing amounts of renewable energy. We also see wave power and geothermal energy as potential sources of renewable energy in the future.
Wind Power
Renewable energy is seen as one way forward and so far, energy generated by wind has been the most successful. We have used wind power to push sailboats, grind grain, and pump water for centuries. It was in Scotland in the late 1800s that the first ever windmill was built to generate electricity. Ironically, fast forward 100+ years and Scotland is among the most active at using wind power to power their country.
An example is their Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm which launched last year in 2019. Situated off the north coast, this wind farm now creates enough electricity to power 450,000 homes.
Wave Energy
While wind power and solar power have been used more commercially, many believe that wave power could also provide us with a renewable energy source to create electricity. Because of being the most concentrated form of renewable energy on the planet, the waves in our oceans could create energy up to ten times more powerful than what wind does. It is that potential that is exciting to many.
Of course, this is no competition as we should use as many types of renewable energy as possible. Could we one day have a world completely powered by the wind, sun, water, and even the earth?
Carbon Reduction Technologies
Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that we are releasing into the atmosphere is also something that needs to be addressed. In fact, it is paramount that we do this if we want to stop the world’s temperature rising even further. Again, several solutions are being used to try to do just that.
Again, we will look at a couple of solutions that could make a positive impact on the ozone layer:
Cement-Free Concrete
Concrete may not seem an obvious choice when it comes to harming the atmosphere but it would surprise you just how damaging it can be. Not the concrete itself, but the production of it because of the main ingredient cement. Production of this material contributes around 10% of all CO2 emissions worldwide.
An alternative solution is helping to change that. Called Carbicrete, is a product that fills concrete with steel slag instead of cement. Just as strong and durable, this product alone could make a huge difference to our atmosphere.
Improved Battery Efficiency
Electric cars have been heralded as the perfect alternative to the gas-guzzling monstrosities on our roads right now. The only issue is their energy storage capabilities. These cars can run with no gas but also need recharging after relatively brief intervals. A Lot of effort and research has gone into pushing battery technologies even further so that these vehicles become more attractive to consumers.
What You Can Do Personally to Help the Fight Against Climate Change
While governments are seemingly increasing their efforts to decrease climate change globally, we also have to do our bit. If we value our planet and want to keep it in a healthy state for our future generations, we have to act now. Many of you will already do what you can but there is always room to do even more.
Consider Renewable Energy to Power Your Home
One of the ultimate goals in the fight against climate change is to use more renewable energies for our power. If you have the means, why not consider using solar or wind to power your home? You can either do this yourself or instead change your power company to one that uses renewable power for its source.
Be More Selective of What You Eat
Another simple way to combat climate change is to alter what you eat. For one, try to cut down on the meat you eat. Secondly, wherever possible, purchase your food from local suppliers. Finally, go for foods that use as little packaging as possible.
Reduce How Much Water You Use
You might not realize it but using water eats through energy and thus has a negative impact on the environment. The water that you use has to be treated, and this is a big drain on energy. Do what you can to conserve the water you use and you will limit how much energy is being used.
Change How You Travel
How you get around also has an impact. If you do need to use a car, ensure it is fuel efficient. Otherwise, use public transport as much as possible, share a car to work, or even better use a bicycle or make your way on foot.
Recycle More!
We have already explained why it is important to recycle more than we do in another blog post and we cannot emphasize enough how important this is. Recycling uses less energy compared to sourcing and extracting raw natural resources and manufacturing them into items.
Join a Time Bank Using The Nomos App
Of course, if you wanted to have more of an impact for your community on the fight against climate change, joining an active time bank is a great way to do it. Many time banks run initiatives that are focused on helping the environment and some will even partner with charities and other organizations. You might be able to go on litter picking activities, help to educate others, or collect money for environment-related charities.
Our Nomos App is a great place to start if you are looking for a time bank near you. Free to download and use, it will help you find, connect, and even run a time bank from your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.
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