Global Warming 2020

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The greatest environmental challenge of our time is without a doubt climate change. Over the coming years and decades this will have a stark influence on our lives. Not only through the physical changes in the climate, but also through changes in our energy consumption, travel patterns and many other aspects of our life. Companies will not be unaffected by these changes. Markets will change, as will client requirements and there will be a steep rise in legislation with regards to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Developing a comprehensive corporate climate change strategy is therefore an essential part of good business management. This article gives a brief description of the elements that such a strategy should include.

The management of climate change should adopt two distinct strategies: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation deals with the reduction in greenhouse gases to the earth’s atmosphere. Carbon foot-printing and carbon accounting form typical measures that are used within the framework of this strategy. Adaptation revolves around measures that address the changes and vulnerabilities of the organisation that will be present as a result of the inevitable physical change in our climate. A good corporate climate change strategy addresses both mitigation and adaptation.

1. Understanding greenhouse gas emissions of the organisation

An understanding of the organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions is fundamental in every credible corporate climate change strategy. To achieve this a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory should be made. The inventory is a first step to manage and reduce the emissions, which are also key elements of a the strategy. The inventory combined with the management and reduction form the core of a greenhouse gas accounting system. At this moment there are two internationally recognised systems for greenhouse gas accounting available. These are the ISO 14064 standard and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

2. Understanding climate change vulnerability

Most large organisations have started to make a greenhouse gas inventory and have adopted measures to reduce their carbon footprint. As I described in the introduction, adaptation also forms an important part of a comprehensive corporate climate change strategy. To develop an understanding of an organisation’s vulnerability to changes in the climate a review of the operations, products and services, transport needs should be made as well as an understanding of the physical changes to the climate in which the organisation operates. There are no clear guidelines on how to develop an understanding of the vulnerability to changes in the climate, although the United Nations Panel on Climate Change has published a range of reports documenting the predicted changes to the climate in each of the global regions over the course of the current century. In addition to these global publications, many governments have funded research predicting the potential change in climate at a national level.

3. Commit to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

As part of credible strategy, a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be made at the most senior level in the organisation.

4. Develop internal corporate capacity

Development of internal capacity is an essential element to drive through improvements to both the greenhouse gas emissions and the climate change vulnerability. It is the people within the organisation that are best placed to identify practical solutions that will support any improvement programme. Ensuring an adequate level of knowledge and understanding within the members of staff with regards to the climate change issues that are facing the organisation is therefore a key element in the strategy.

5. Work with supply chain and engage with stakeholders

A significant contribution to the carbon footprint of a product that an organisation produces is made during the processing by suppliers. In addition an organisation should be aware of the climate change vulnerability of its own supply chain. The strategy should therefore address the role of the supply chain in managing climate change issues.

6. Adopt and implement improvement action plan

The first five elements provide a thorough understanding of the issues facing an organisation as a result of changes to our climate. Based on this understanding an improvement plan should be drawn up. As with any credible action plan the actions should consist of SMART targets, be fully funded, and be relevant to the organisations climate change threats and opportunities.

7. Publish an annual report

The final element is the publication of an annual report that demonstrate progress against the action plan, re-affirms the commitment to improvement and accounts for the carbon emissions.

Paul Giesberg is founder and Principal Director at Planning for Sustainability Ltd. This firm specialises in providing sustainability support to development projects such as BREEAM assessments and environmental impact assessments.

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While many contend that there are different reasons behind the changing of our climate, few can deny that our planet is going through a period of immense changes. While some may discredit the science, global warming is one of the main hypothesis for why our planet is heating up. In this article, we’ll try to explain some of the science behind global warming so that you can understand the problem more clearly.

According to numerous scientific studies, our planet’s surface temperature has increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit within the last century. Most of this change has occurred in the past two decades, prompting the question: are our lifestyles accelerating this global change? The evidence definitely seems to point in that direction.

Many scientists point to the emission of greenhouse gases as one of the leading reasons that we are undergoing this global change. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are some of the main compounds that we are releasing more and more, causing something known as the ‘Greenhouse Effect’. This occurs due to the fact that these gases tend to trap heat, and when they are released into our upper atmosphere, they trap some of the heat energy that would normally be reflected by our earth’s natural processes.

It’s an undisputed fact that there is more greenhouse gas in our atmosphere due to humanity. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, it is estimated that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by as much as thirty percent. While a little greenhouse gas helps to keep our planet warm, the more and more that we release, the hotter the planet is going to get. That is an important fact to consider, being that our biosphere is finely tuned to live at the temperatures at which our planet currently operates. Many forms of both plant and animal life run the risk of extinction should the temperature change be accelerated. Fossil fuels are primarily responsible for the amount of greenhouse gases that we are releasing, and to help fix the problem, we are going to need to find an alternate source of energy, and quick. Research into alternative fuels has yielded several possible options, including the use of corn in the production of ethanol, which has already had proven usage in places such as Venezuela. The most accelerated period of temperature change has occurred in the past twenty years, and it’s clearly evident that we need to address this problem while we still can.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Weather [http://iweatherworld.com/], Arts, and Science

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Everyone talks about global warming. A planet (Earth) is in danger! But if it then there is inevitably a global alarm global climate change. So, how dangerous can a global climate change be? That global warming is happening, it's a foregone conclusion long. Many of you may know, even with some of the reasons.

Let's start with some questions. What are the effects of global warming on the global climate and how we can prevent peoplefurther damage to our environment? Warming can be slowed or reversed? If so, how? How long is it now? There are many questions and answers, but these are just some of the most important.

All said and done, questions the most important thing to do, to an awareness of changes in global climate and how does it affect us and our future generations. An increasingly hot and thirsty world is not far away. ButIf we act quickly, there is much we can do individually and together. It's all a matter of time and take appropriate measures to halt global warming.

What is global warming?

Global warming may be as a constant rise in temperatures of land and sea defined by increased amounts of gases that trap the specific heat in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, as the "Greenhouse gases are known. Natural occurrence. It also produces self-These gases are, in some regions of our planet. Greenhouse gases released when fossil fuels used to generate energy. Over the years, these gases have begun to be produced in large quantities leads to significantly alter the climate of our planet.

But despite all these facts, it is quite difficult to recognize reality, whether the global climate change actually takes place and process to understand the speed of this. However, it is a fact that iceCaps are melting, the aquifers are retreating, the climatic conditions change around the world, the summer temperatures rise during the term be extended by the summer, the winters severe and shorter, etc.

What are the concerns?

Tsunamis, earthquakes, typhoons, that the ability to kill thousands of people to destroy thousands of miles of land now not uncommon. There are many recent examples of these natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami of 2005,the recent earthquake in Haiti among others. Furthermore, as a product of human disasters on fire to forests, oil wells, etc. lead to serious impacts on the global climate.

How does global climate change involved?

While average temperatures are rising around the world, a devastating effect on the environment. As most conservatories are released and trapped in the atmosphere increases, the temperatures of the oceans "with the melting of glaciers. After manyScientists, has begun this process already. This could only mean one thing, that even if global climate change already is underway, time to stop and at the best ways to do one that is a transition to renewable energy.