Globalwarming Awareness2007, Tel-Aviv Israel

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Things you have got to know about globalwarming before you join awareness2007 campaign

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What is the reason for globalwarming?

Gasses like Carbon dioxide are causing air pollution. These polluting gasses are collected in the atmosphere like a wrapping, capturing the heat of the sun and resulting earth to become warmer. Coal-burning power plants are the largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution; they create 2.5 billion tons every year. Vehicles, the second largest source, emit nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 every year.Good news? Modern technology manufactures cars that run cleaner and burn less gas, modernize power plants generate electricity from nonpolluting sources, and cut our electricity use through energy efficiency. The challenge is to make sure these solutions are put to use.

Is the earth really getting hotter?

Yes. During the industrial era of the last 150 years, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 31 percent. Over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. Scientists think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Experts assume that unless we curb globalwarming emissions, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century. Wonder what will happen in the rest of the world.

What’s negative in warmer temperatures?

Globalwarming has caused and worsen the severity of wildfires, drought, stronger hurricanes (warmer oceans supplies hurricanes with more energy), dust storms, floods, heat waves in Europe and melting of snows. And in what scientists consider as an alarming sign of events to come, the area of the Arctic's perennial polar ice cap is declining at the rate of 9 percent per decade.

Is there a real cause for serious concern?

Yes. Globalwarming is a complex phenomenon, and its full-scale impacts are hard to predict far in advance. But each year scientists learn more about how globalwarming is affecting the planet, and many agree that certain consequences are likely to occur if current trends continue. Among these:· Warmer sea surface temperatures will fuel more intense hurricanes in the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts.· Melting glaciers, early snowmelt and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages in the American West.· Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding on the Eastern seaboard, in Florida, and in other areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico.· Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction.· Forests, farms and cities will face troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne diseases.

Could globalwarming trigger a sudden catastrophe?

Some studies worst-case scenario conclude, globalwarming could make large areas of the world uninhabitable and cause massive food and water shortages, sparking widespread migrations and war.While this prospect remains highly speculative, many of globalwarming's effects are already happening. And the idea that such extreme change is possible underscores the urgent need to start reducing globalwarming pollution.

What country is the largest source of globalwarming pollution?

U.S., though Americans make up just 4 percent of the world's population, they produce 1/4 of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning. Actually, the U.S. emits more carbon dioxide than China, India and Japan, combined.

Is it possible to reduce globalwarming pollution?

Of course, simply by cutting pollution from power plants ad cars. Right away, we should put existing technologies for building cleaner cars and more modern electricity generators into widespread use. We can increase our reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and geothermal. And we can manufacture more efficient appliances and save energy.

How can we reduce power plant pollution and still have enough electricity?

First, we must use more efficient appliances and equipment in our houses and offices to cut our electricity consumption. We can also replace decades-old, coal-burning power plants that generate most of our electricity with cleaner plants. And we can increase our use of renewable energy sources such as wind and sun.

How can we cut car pollution?

Cost-effective technologies to reduce globalwarming pollution from cars and light trucks of all sizes are available now. There is no reason to wait and hope that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will solve the problem in the future. Hybrid gas-electric engines can cut globalwarming pollution by one-third or more today; Here is Israel, our government reduce almost completely the tax for hybrid vehicles, where it collects almost 100% tax for every new private vehicle. In addition, we can buy regular fueled cars with smaller cars with smaller engines and with reduced fuel consumption.

What can I do to help fight globalwarming?

Prefer a compact fluorescent light bulb over an incandescent bulb, for example, you will lower your energy bill and keep nearly 320 Kilos of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's lifetime. Buy more efficient home appliances like refrigerator with the Energy Star label. Join NRDC in their globalwarming reduction campaign.