The nitrogen and oxygen gases that make up most of the atmosphere do not absorb or emit thermal radiation. It is water vapor, carbon dioxide, and some other minor gases, present in much smaller amounts in the atmosphere that absorb some of the thermal radiation leaving the surface, acting as a partial blanket for that …
This section sets out what the WWF’s 2007 Climate Solutions Report says needs to be done to meet the world’s growing energy needs without further damaging the global climate. Reducing people’s energy consumption is an essential part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Stop forest loss. Caring for plants that store carbon dioxide like trees is …
In the last three decades, the world population that lives in urban areas has tripled. Earth cannot replenish its resources at the same rate that humans are currently consuming them, and its replenishment rate may continue to slow as climate change continues to affect both land and the oceans. Add to this an increasing urbanization …
In 2007, the United Nations IPCC adopted a report based on an expert review of scientific evidence from around the world. The authors came to four related conclusions: That both air temperature and sea level have risen faster over the past century than in the past. The warmth of the last half-century is unusual in …
When sun’s rays come to the earth, about 30% of their energy is reflected back into space by surfaces such as clouds, ice and snow. The rest stays nearby, heating the oceans and continents, which eventually release the heat into the atmosphere and from there into space. However, with global warming, there is a barrier …
Non-renewable fuels have helped drive the growth of modern society, particularly by providing the ability to industrialize and transport people and materials from one place to another. They exist in infinite number and cannot easily be replenished. They took a long time to create and the people are using them far faster than Earth can …
Ladies looking to lessen the waste produced during their menstrual cycle are in luck—there are several effective and comfortable products on the market today. Although the vast majority of women use disposable options each month, there are other ways to take care of your menstrual needs; namely, menstrual cups and reusable cloth pads. Try them, …
More than a third of the food made in the United States is never eaten, it is a waste of resources used to produce it and causing a variety of environmental impacts. 22 percent of municipal solid waste is landfilled and incinerated, respectively. Reducing food waste offers opportunities to increase food security, increase productivity and …
The production of food that is not consumed unnecessarily consumes natural resources, generates greenhouse gas emissions and creates waste. In order to assess the environmental impact of a food product, we need to consider its entire life cycle and track every step of the food supply chain. We can consider three indicators: the carbon footprint, …
The amount of plastic produced in Japan has come down from its 1997 peak of 15,210,000 tons but remained level for a number of years, with 14,650,000 tons produced in 2007. The total amount of plastic waste also remained stable, with 9,940,000 tons emitted in 2007. Household waste accounted for 5,020,000 tons (down60,000 tons) of …
