If everyone reduced their carbon emissions to 0, the film predicts that the carbon levels in the atmosphere will reduced to levels lower (i.e. better) than the optimum levels seen in 1970 where such problems due to Global Warming were minimal. I sit here looking out of the window in my high-rise flat in the heart of London and see many waste products being released into the atmosphere. These waste products contain high levels of carbon emissions. If anything, this is making my view a smoggy and dull which doesn’t span very far in distance – and this is not due to other buildings getting in the way (a metaphor?!).
Going green can be effortless...
Some although suggest that such pollution from aerosol particles are leading to Global Dimming – an effect which results in aerosol particles absorbing and reflecting sun rays back out into space, therefore counteracting the effects of Global Warming. However, the research into Global Dimming aren’t as reliable as those into Global Warming (in my view at least…) and also suggests that we need to pollute the atmosphere even more in order to lower the Earth’s atmosphere. Surely with extended pollution, this will release higher concentrations of carbon-related waste which inevitably overcome any temporary effects of Global Dimming – if any? (My account and understanding of Global Dimming is slightly hazy – do correct me or add more if necessary) Personally I would think that instead of polluting the atmosphere, a cleaner world would be a better world.
I know there are many posts, articles etc just like this one demanding people need to cut their emissions down – and although there are worldwide successes, this is clearly not enough. The numbers of individuals not cutting down are still greater than the numbers who are. This leads onto something a friend of mine said – “Why should I waste so much of my time and energy trying to cut down on leisurely habits in order to try and save the planet when clearly a greater number of people are counteracting my efforts?” As more and more people get involved, the closer we all are together to solving this problem. As the film points out, small individual efforts can solve large problems. Minority groups have many success stories in over-powering the majority – women can vote, homosexuality is no longer a mental disorder, slaves were freed – to name a few of the more obvious accounts in history. I’m not here to bore you with the finite scientific details. I think the majority of us are aware that this is a real issue whether we choose to accept it or not. However, the minority of us are doing anything about it.
The minority are slowly becoming the majority. However, there is still a great number of people out there still in the current majority soon turning into a minority. This needs changing. My friend is a great person, but the quote is clearly a wrong set of mind. Of course an individual’s work can make drastic changes, and those drastic changes get amplified as more people do it. I am happy to say that this person is continuing to make an effort. I don’t ask for perfection and leading to 0… but to at least change. Think on the plus side – if you go green, your bills get drastically lower.
Here is a link to my google search on “Go Green” to find out how you can change. A lot of these efforts are actually quite effortless…
