What can WE do as individuals to save The Earth is a question often asked of me, having only one simple answer. Do as much as you can every single day!

However, there are still quite a few people out there yet to be convinced that global warming and climate change is a problem, and whom think that nothing needs doing at all!

State Of The Planet

For both those of you whom are troubled by the varying reports coming out recently, and for those of you yet to grasp the situation, I would like to show you the ecological state of our planet Earth right now…

• The world’s population ecological footprint is at x1.3 planets, if nothing is done to arrest the trend this figure will have risen to x2 planets by mid 2030’s – clearly unsustainable.
  
• The living planet index is at x0.7 right now, that is we have reduced the vertebrate animal population by 30% since 1970 – another unsustainable trend surely?

…which means in real terms that we are in ecological deficit according to the WWF Living Planet Report 2008.

To explain, The Earth’s capacity to support the human population along with a healthy diversity of species is large but is also a finite size, and at the moment that capacity is being exceeded by 1.3 or 30%. That is ecological deficit!

In addition to the support of living species, the Earth provides certain ecological services that are essential to our well being…

Support Services;

• nutrient cycling
• soil formation
• primary plant production

Provisioning Services;

• production of food
• production of freshwater
• production of materials and fuel

Regulating Services;

• climate
• food
• water purification
• pollination
• pest control

Cultural Services;

• aesthetic
• spiritual
• educational
• recreational

…all of which are being over stretched due to our ecological footprint up at x1.3 and thus exceeding capacity.

Global Climate Change

It may disturb you to know that, since the Kyoto summit – 12 years ago – carbon emissions into the atmosphere have increased by 30%. This is mainly due to the industrial growth of developing countries. The growth rate of the world market economy means this trend is set to continue, unless unified political intervention can change it. Not something I would bet on happening.

According to the newly presented Climate Solution 2 Report…

If we don’t move to a low-carbon world by 2014*, runaway climate change may be inevitable because, we will miss the critical greenhouse gas emission reduction targets needed to avoid it. ~Source

*Meaning we must have critical low-carbon industries under accelerated development by 2014.

In a nutshell, runaway climate change is very undesirable leading to – oceanic thermal expansion, increased frequency and intensity of droughts, storms and hurricanes, and eventually to polar ice sheet melting.

Sea Level Rises

It is currently being predicted by the US Geological Survey and the British Hadley Centre amongst others, that the sea level will rise between 1 metre to 2 metres by 2100 due to thermal expansion alone. This is based on a mean temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).

This would be bad enough in itself, it does not however take into account the melting of the land based ice sheets covering Antarctica and Greenland, both of which are indeed melting.

You see, when sea ice disappears – like the North Polar ice cap – it doesn’t affect sea levels as the ice was already floating in the sea. If however, land based ice sheets melt, then the melt water adds to the volume of the oceans.

Fragmented Polar Landscape. Photograph: Momatiuk-Eastcott/Corbis

The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are so vast and deep that their melting would be catastrophic. The formers disappearance would add 20 metres (65 ft) to sea levels, and the latters disappearance would add 7 metres (22 ft).

What Can We Do

As I said, highly undesirable but preventable if every one of us acts now. By doing all we can to alleviate the climate change pressures of increased storms and rising sea levels, and to halt the ecological pressure on species diversity and environmental services we can make a difference.

The trick is to live well, but to live within the means of our planet. This presents a challenge to industry and politics to find solutions. As individuals we consume goods and services that have to be met with energy and material resources. We can choose those goods and services that consume less resources to lower our impact on the planet.

The 3 key areas where we can save are…

• Household
• Food
• Travel

…which can be broken down into sub zones.

Household

1. Insulation
2. Electricity
3. Heating
   
4. Waste

If you were to look at your house through a thermal imaging camera, you would see the roof, windows and doors glowing bright yellow as the heat escaped. By fitting double glazing and loft insulation you can save lots of energy and money.

Fit energy saving light bulb throughout your house, and turn off lights, TV and other appliances when not in use. When buying new electrical goods, look for the ‘Energy Star’ symbol to ensure you bring energy efficiency into your home.

Heat your home with an energy efficient boiler, like a gas convection type that recycles the heat lost through the flue. Turn down your room thermostat by 1 or 2 degrees.

You can do a lot with your waste. Compost organic waste to use in your garden. Remember the 3 R’s – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle. You can reuse items instead of throwing them out, reduce your consumption in all areas, and recycle packaging, bottles, card and paper, aluminum and steel cans.

Food

1. Organic
2. Seasonal
3. Local

If you buy organic you know that high energy consuming pesticides and fertilizers have not been used in the agriculture. It will also probably have less packaging.

If you buy seasonal and local, you will avoid the transport energy embedded in produce imported from around the world.

Travel

Driving a car is often essential, but we can be smart with it. Use a smaller low consumption model. Car share where possible, it’s better for 4 people to travel in 1 car than for 4 people to use 4 cars. Where possible walk, cycle, take a bus or train instead of the car.

I have shared just a few ideas with you today, which I hope will have set you thinking about how important it is to run your life in a more sustainable way. Read all you can find, about saving the environment and ways of reducing you impact on it. Pass on all you learn to your neighbours and friends. This way you can spread the word. The more people whom become concerned then take action, the better we all will be in the future.

Sincerely,

P.S. You can find further reading at the links I’ve provided for you below. Search on the internet to find even more interesting reading.

US Environment Protection Agency – Climate Change
Rising Sea Level Maps
World Environment News

Related posts:

1. What Is The Future For Mankind And Earth