October 06, 2010   Africa , Joni Mitchell , Nature , News , Seeing Good at Work , Technology

"Reading the news and it all looks...." Joni Mitchell

I've been reading about awareness regarding climate change and it seems that there is less doubt now that it actually happening.  I was...

I've been reading about awareness regarding climate change and it seems that there is less doubt now that it actually happening.  I was inspired to read that China is talking about some strong changes in environment practices, connecting green energy to new businesses.  (http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/16/china-green-energy-business-energy-china.html.)

Sadly, on the other side (this side, USA) I read that a massive number of senate candidates deny that global warming is happening (http://www.grist.org/article/2010-09-13-deniers-gop-senate-candidates-global-warming) and are opposed to action to limit global warming pollution, and they question the validity of climate science.

I was surprised to learn (ah reading is so much fun) that China is the world's biggest carbon emitter (sfgate article no longer available) followed by the US, India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Canada, UK, South Korea, Iran, Mexico, Italy, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia (2007 listing).

From Earth Policy Institute:

"Though economic growth slowed throughout much of the world during 2001, world carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels continued their relentless upward trend, surpassing 6.5 billion tons. As a result of the consistent growth of emissions, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has increased from the preindustrial level of 280 parts per million (ppm) to today's 370 ppm, a 32-percent increase. In the last 20 years, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased at the unprecedented rate of 1.5 ppm a year."

The major sources of carbon emissions are generation of electricity, transportation, industry and residential/commercial use.

In our offices we're turning the lights off in workrooms, passages and offices when we no one is present.  Friends and I are walking more.  I'm educating myself about recycling - taking time to learn exactly what goes where and thinking twice about products in crazy packaging.  Someone asked me if it is enough. 

What do you think?

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