Are there solutions to global warming

Thanks to low friction between train wheels and tracks, and level train tracks with gradual turns, trains have high energy efficiency. Stabilizing global temperature near its current level requires eliminating all emissions of heat-trapping gases or, equivalently, achieving a carbon-neutral society in which people remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as they emit. Achieving this goal will require substantial societal changes in energy technologies and infrastructure that go beyond the collective actions of individuals and households to reduce emissions.

Generally speaking, here are some examples of mitigation strategies we can use to slow or stop the human-caused global warming learn more : Where possible, we can switch to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind energy to power our homes and buildings, thus emitting far less heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Where feasible, we can drive electric vehicles instead of those that burn fossil fuels; or we can use mass transit instead of driving our own cars. Where affordable, we can conserve energy by better insulating our homes and buildings, and by replacing old, failing appliances with more energy-efficient models.

Solutions to global warming How to stop global warming? Learn More. Solutions Contribute Definition Causes Effects Solutions Global warming solutions.

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Definition What is global warming? Causes Global warming causes. Photo by Skeeze on Pixabay. Fossil fuels The massive use of fossil fuels is obviously the first source of global warming, as burning coal, oil and gas produces carbon dioxide - the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere - as well as nitrous oxide. Photo by markusspiske on Pixabay. Deforestation The exploitation of forests has a major role in climate change.

Photo by Erlend Ekseth on Unsplash. Intensive farming Another cause of global warming is intensive farming, not only with the ever-increasing livestock, but also with plant protection products and fertilizers. Photo by Bas Emmen on Unsplash. Waste disposal Waste management methods like landfills and incineration emit greenhouse and toxic gases - including methane - that are released into the atmosphere, soil and waterways, contributing to the increase of the greenhouse effect.

Photo by Dominik Vanyi on Unsplash. Mining Modern life is highly dependent on the mining and metallurgical industry. Photo by Holger Link on Unsplash. Overconsumption Finally, overconsumption also plays a major role in climate change.

Effects Global warming effects. All of these changes are emerging as humans continue to add heat-trapping greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Countries around the world acknowledged the imperative to act on climate change with the Paris Agreement in , making pledges to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC , which synthesizes the scientific consensus on the issue, has set a goal of keeping warming under 2 degrees Celsius 3. Both of those targets are in jeopardy. Major countries are already falling behind on their pledges, according to a UN report issued at the end of , and emissions levels in need to be approximately 25 to 55 percent lower than they were in Previous research suggests that even if countries do meet their pledges to reduce emissions, those commitments won't be enough to stave off severe warming.

Addressing climate change will require many solutions —there's no magic bullet. Yet nearly all of these solutions exist today, and many of them hinge on humans changing the way we behave, shifting the way we make and consume energy. The required changes span technologies, behaviors, and policies that encourage less waste and smarter use of our resources.

For example, improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy, increases in wind and solar power, biofuels from organic waste, setting a price on carbon, and protecting forests are all potent ways to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases trapping heat on the planet.

Scientists are also working on ways to sustainably produce hydrogen, most of which is currently derived from natural gas, to feed zero-emission fuel cells for transportation and electricity. Other efforts are aimed at building better batteries to store renewable energy; engineering a smarter electric grid; and capturing carbon dioxide from power plants and other sources with the goal of storing it underground or turning it into valuable products such as gasoline.

Some people argue that nuclear power—despite concerns over safety, water use, and toxic waste—should also be part of the solution, because nuclear plants don't contribute any direct air pollution while operating. While halting new greenhouse gas emissions is critical, scientists have also emphasized that we need to extract existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

An iceberg melts in the waters off Antarctica. The EPA estimates that if just one out of every American homes were retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, about million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year would be saved—avoiding 80, tons of global warming pollution.

Approximately 10 percent of U. And since livestock products are among the most resource-intensive to produce, eating meat-free meals can make a big difference, too. LED lightbulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than conventional incandescents. Taken together, the outlets in your home are likely powering about 65 different devices—an average load for a home in the U. Audio and video devices, cordless vacuums and power tools, and other electronics use energy even when they're not charging.

This "idle load" across all U. So don't leave fully charged devices plugged into your home's outlets, unplug rarely used devices or plug them into power strips and timers, and adjust your computers and monitors to automatically power down to the lowest power mode when not in use. Gas-smart cars, such as hybrids and fully electric vehicles, save fuel and money. For good reason: Relative to a national fleet of vehicles that averaged only Before you buy a new set of wheels, compare fuel-economy performance here.

If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, we could save 1. A simple tune-up can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4 percent to 40 percent, and a new air filter can get you a 10 percent boost. Choosing to live in walkable smart-growth cities and towns with quality public transportation leads to less driving, less money spent on fuel, and less pollution in the air. Less frequent flying can make a big difference, too.