Global Change

Scientists across the world generally agree global warming if not curtailed will have a devastating effect on our planet. Climate change already occurring in most countries across the world even if we can’t see or feel the impacts just yet!

Human activities over the last century or more have helped increased carbon-dioxide emissions in driving up temperatures. Extreme weather and melting polar ice now appear to be some of the known effects.

Did You Know?

Did you know the earth has an average temperature of 15 degrees celsius? The temperature has been higher and lower over long periods of history and there are natural changes but scientist agree the temperature is rising and rising beyond the normal average and at a faster pace.

The global climate is the interconnected system of the sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts and savannas. This interconnection includes everything we as people do and decide to do. (have a think about that).

Facts – Temperature and Heat

Global warming is the slow increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere due to an increased amount of energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun. This energy (heat is being trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated back out into space.

The earth’s atmosphere has always acted like a good greenhouse to capture the sun’s heat. Without this natural and beneficial atmospheric greenhouse, the earth would be very cold. Global warming, however, is the equivalent of the suns heat getting trapped on the earth (over time) and not escaping into space. This extra heat causes all types of changes, some we know about and some we are yet to find out about! So to recap, too much heat getting trapped in our atmosphere or inside the greenhouse known as earth. Due to this, the temperature of the earth is going up faster than at any other time in history.

The 3 most common positions taken on global warming: (what the experts say).

(1) global warming is not occurring, therefore, climate change is not happening. 

(2) global warming and climate change are natural, cyclic events unrelated to human activity.

(3) global warming and related climate change is happening because of human activity.

Who to Follow

We follow the scientists who say; the current warming of the earth can be traced to the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century when coal first came into common use. This warming trend increased with our use of fossil fuels like petrol, diesel and gas as well as the introduction of millions of products made from oil like plastics. Who do you follow?

Just to say we at Recycle IT are not experts, but we are learning and you can learn more at NASA who offer on online knowledge-base. Met Éireann also provide information. You will find a link below.

 

Learn More

Met Éireann’s helps in measuring our past and current climate, and have a role in helping to predict Ireland’s future climate. They have access to data from the mid-nineteenth century onwards and can see a rise has occurred in the average global temperature and believe the rate of change in recent times cannot be explained by natural causes alone. You can learn lots more from Met Éireann here including access to videos explaining climate change.

Some Simple Steps to Help –

Reducing waste, recycling and composting are effective ways to decrease the generation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. They achieve benefits by

• helping save energy in the processing of materials for industrial and consumer use.
• reducing the flow of materials — especially food and other organic wastes — into landfills where anaerobic decomposition produces methane.

Recycling of metals can be an excellent way for homes and offices to conserve energy, e,g. using recycled aluminium scraps to make and remake aluminium cans takes 95% less energy than making aluminium cans from mined ore. Steel is another example, it takes 75% less energy to make recycled steel than steel made from raw iron ore. As a starting point, we suggest recycling all types of used metal, large, small, round, square, it matters little what it was used for, just gather it together and recycle! You will find a metal recycling list here.

Other steps include;

• Use less heating and air conditioning.
• Replace light bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs.
• Drive less and drive smart including car sharing.
• Use public transport.
• Use less hot water.
• Power off computers, lights, TV’s and game consoles.
• Plants some trees.
• Spread the word.

April 22nd is Earth Day – learn more at www.earthday.org

Posted by Recycle IT

Recycle IT, is an award-winning social enterprise offering electrical, electronic and metal recycling services through drop off and collection. Services are provided in partnership with WEEE Ireland and South Dublin County Council.

Recycle IT are supported by Pobal and Dormant Accounts and authorised by the National Waste Collection Permit Office and the local authorities across Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow.

For more information on Recycle IT please call 01 4578321, email info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie