Global Warming Awareness

Global warming is considered as the most alarming problem that we are facing nowadays. In fact, it's already evident in different parts of the world. In the Philippines alone, the weather temperature is EXTREMELY hot ranging from 37 to 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, other countries are experiencing frequent typhoon and earlier start of spring. The most shocking part is when I saw on the news that some icebergs in Antarctica are already melting, thus affecting its native animals like the penguins and the polar bears. So what causes global warming?

The main culprit behind the global warming problem is the continuous emission of heat-trapping gases (e.g. carbon dioxide) into our atmosphere. Whenever we burn fossil fuels (e.g. petroleum) to have our daily supply of electricity, we are actually releasing tons of heat-trapping gases which destroy our ozone layer and these gases remain in our atmosphere for decades. Some of the applicances that we are using are also emitting CFC (another form of heat-trapping gases). Among these appliances are airconditioners and refrigerators.

What can we do to solve or at least minimize global warming?

• We must minimize the emission of heat-trapping gases by reducing our usage of fossil fuels. Some countries are already using water and wind as natural source of electricity.
• We must plant more trees around us. Why? It's because trees absorb all the carbon dioxides that are released by our cars.
• We must use CFC-free airconditioners and refrigerators.

If each one of us will cooperate to alleviate the problem of global warming, then we can assure our children and future grandchildren a healthier environment to live in.

For more information about global warming, you can visit Union of Concerned Scientists.