Is climate change really inevitable?

Climate change is the most talked about ecological issue in the last decade. Many scientists agree that climate change is inevitable, and that we are no longer able to stop global warming. The only thing we could do is to adapt, and to make sure we do not make things even worse. The future outlook doesn't look good, and scientists predict floods, droughts, rising sea levels, and extinction of many animals as the worst climate change consequences.

Many scientists also agree that our only chance to prevent the worst possible climate change scenario is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions on global level. This will however be very hard to achieve because neither Kyoto nor Copenhagen were able to unite global political will in form of legally binding international climate deal.

Our industries and economies are based on fossil fuels, and fossil fuel burning is the main source of carbon emissions on our planet. In order to cut our dependence on fossil fuels we would need a quick development of clean, renewable energy sources but this sadly doesn't look like happening any time soon.

Will climate change leave us enough time for transition to renewable energy?

Difficult to tell, but if temperatures continue current warming trend at one time we will pass the point of no return, and we will not be able to prevent the worst of climate change. Many scientists are convinced that if we fail to significantly reduce emissions in the next few decades, we will see this point of no return very soon, even before the end of this century.

World leaders still fail to find a mutual language when discussing climate change issue, and each country wants to promote its own interests before and against the global interests. In such atmosphere new climate change deal is impossible and this was clearly shown last year in Copenhagen.

The stakes are really high, and yet the politicians continue to gamble with our planet's health like this is some stock on the market. This needs to change very soon. Or else...

Why are forests and rainforests so important to humanity?

Forests and rainforests around the world are still disappearing at an alarming rate, and in general very little has been done to prevent deforestation in developing countries. World seems to be constantly forgetting how important forests and rainforests really are, and so rapid deforestation continues in many parts of the world.

Many people are not aware that forests play extremely important role in regulating climate, and because of their carbon-sinking ability they act as natural weapon against climate change. Currently, rainforests absorb around 20 percent of the total CO2 emissions every year, but sadly heavy deforestation is also releasing an extra 17 percent of CO2 emissions each year. Deforestation has really become large source of CO2 emissions, in fact it is the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions so it is really no wonder that many environmentalists describe deforestation as "one of the biggest threat to the global climate".

Deforestation is worst in Africa, Amazon, and Indonesia. For instance if current rates of deforestation are about to continue in Amazon in years to come, more than half of the Amazon rainforest will be lost in the next 25 years. The last thing world needs in fight against climate change is deforestation, what we really need is reforestation, and rich countries should really ensure funds for reforestation in poor countries.

Deforestation is taking heavy toll in Amazon rainforest. If current rates of deforestation continue in less than 25 years more than half of the Amazon rainforest will disappear.

Global climate deal looks to be couple of months away but still there are not enough talks about rainforests and forests protection. CO2 emissions that origin from deforestation are not negligent and should be really treated the same as industrial CO2 emissions. The solution for climate change is not only clean energy sector but also to stop deforestation and ensure funds for reforestation. Let me remind you that forests are not only nature's weapon against climate change, they also store water, regulate rainfall and not to mention how they provide a home to over half of the planet’s biodiversity.

By destroying rainforests and forests we are really heading towards one very bleak future - future in which humanity could pay extremely high price for not caring enough for our planet. The only question that remains to be answered is "how much of our abuse can our planet still take?"

Arctic warming and increased shipping

If Arctic continues to warm at current rate this will lead to further decline of Arctic summer sea ice. Arctic ice melting will not only lead to global sea level rise, and less habitats for polar bears but will also open the door for increased ship traffic which will likely accelerate climate change effect.

The increased Arctic ship traffic will not only mean more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere but will also bring with it air pollution in form of engine exhaust particles which could increase warming in this part of the world by some 17-78 percent. 

James J. Corbett, professor of marine science and policy at UD said that "One of the most potent 'short-lived climate forcers' in diesel emissions is black carbon, or soot, and ships operating in or near the Arctic use advanced diesel engines that release black carbon into one of the most sensitive regions for climate change." 

These tiny air pollutants are produced by ships as the result of incomplete burning of marine fuel. Once released, these particles act like heaters because they absorb sunlight, both directly from the sun, and reflected from the surface of snow and ice.

In order to give more clearer image on the potential impact of black carbon and other ship pollutants on climate the scientists produced high-resolution (5-kilometer-by-5-kilometer) scenarios that not only account for growth in shipping in the region through 2050, but also outline potential new Arctic shipping routes. 

The scientists found that:

* Global warming potential in 2030 in the high-growth scenario suggests that short-lived forcing of around 4.5 gigatons of black carbon from Arctic shipping may increase the global warming potential due to ships' carbon dioxide emissions (around 42,000 gigagrams) by some 17-78 percent.

* Ship traffic diverting from current routes to new routes through the Arctic is projected to reach 2 percent of global traffic by 2030 and 5 percent in 2050. 

* A Northwest Passage and Northeast Passage through the Arctic Ocean would provide a distance savings of about 25 percent and 50 percent, respectively, with coincident time and fuel savings. However, the scientists said that tradeoffs from the short-lived climate forcing impacts must be studied.

* With controls, the amount of Arctic black carbon from shipping can be reduced in the near term and held nearly constant through 2050.

How can we help our planet?

Many scientists agree that from environmental point of view our planet is in big trouble because of many ecological problems that now look much bigger than ever before. If you ask average person what is the biggest environmental threat we are facing today it is very likely that this person will say climate change. Climate change problem looks to be indeed the biggest ecological problem because it presents great threat to our way of life. Majority agrees that if we don't do something about it our future generations will suffer because we fail to act. In this article I will leave beside the question whether we are really responsible for climate change or would climate change happen in any scenario, the main thing is that climate change is happening, and we simply have to do something to tackle it. Science is telling us that there are too much greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are making greenhouse effect much more powerful, which in the end results in increased average temperature on our planet and causes climate to change. If we accept this fact then we definitely have to ensure that we do not add even more impact to greenhouse effect by further emitting large CO2 emissions into the atmosphere since this could lead to a total environmental disaster in form of floods, hurricanes, droughts, and even some new diseases.

Oil spills are great threat to animals

Many of you know that oil spills are extremely dangerous for wildlife. The most devastating oil spill still remains Exxon Valdez oil spill with huge number of animals dying because of it. Exxon Valdez oil spill is responsible for deaths of thousands of animals,the best estimates include number of 250,000 to as many as 500,000 seabirds, at least 1,000 sea otters, approximately 12 river otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, and 22 orcas, as well as the destruction of billions of salmon and herring eggs.

The latest oil spill could also cause big problems for animals living in Australian waters. Accident on a rig in the Timor Sea has caused oil spill and oil is flowing from the West Atlas platform to Australian waters for three weeks with up to 400 barrels of oil per day making their way into the Timor Sea to Australia's north. Oils slick is about 170km (100 miles) from the Australian coast posing a great threat as it continues its way towards Australia's north.

Oil is already affecting areas inhabited by dolphins and whales, and some fishermen have reported seeing endangered flatback turtles covered in oil, and many fish have been poisoned. Things are really not far away from real ecological disaster because according to latest reports at least two more weeks are needed to break the spill with chemicals. Of course many of these chemicals are also environmentally unfriendly.

Ecological issues - Is world really ready to go green?

Many environmentalists believed when Obama was elected that this would be the start of the "new green revolution" where ecology would be at least equal to industry if not above. After couple of months we can clearly see that green revolution is distant future thing, and not something that miracle man Obama will achieve overnight. I said already before how Obama is first of all politician, and then everything else (including environmentalist), and politics is game of interests, and art of negotiation. Sadly these negotiations are still in favor of industry.

All you have to look at the latest Climate bill that barely passed the first hurdle, namely the House of representatives. With so many concessions to industry and still it barely passed the first hurdle. If scientific estimates of required greenhouse gas emissions cuts prove to be right than this climate bill will really be useless because it is nowhere near the required cuts, especially for short-term targets. And yet Obama celebrates this bill as the historical one. Well when you look at the traditional U.S. dependence on fossil fuels than this bill really looks monumental, because even with such small CO2 emission cuts (17 % by 2020) this still represents a move away from fossil fuels, something that was not imaginable during the Bush era. So this is definitely the step in the right direction, small step however but still in the right direction.

In reality our hopes were too high because we expected "green revolution" to happen overnight, and all the politics can offer us in this time are grounds to build on. Are these grounds strong enough it still remains to be seen, and Copenhagen deal later this year could give us a quick action to this interesting question. Of course we are far from the reality where politics accepted ecology as the ultimate guide for important international agreements but ecology has finally stepped out of the shadow where it was captured for so long. Of course that top spot under the light still belongs to industry and economy but at least ecology is getting some shiny rays from time to time.

What green revolution really requires is the green way of thinking and this is something that is still not possible in western society. Our civilization is too much covered in greed to accept radical changes that are needed for green revolution. Our "green way of thinking" only applies to green color of dollar. Nor grass nor forests aren't green enough in our eyes when compared to almighty dollar, and money is still the main force that rules the world.

Before the green revolution we need to create global ecological conscience and this is something that will take time. But how much time do we have with so many different ecological problems? I would say not too much, and we should really get our values straight as soon as possible. Or else? Let me just say that once we run out of time all the money in the world won't be enough to get us out of the trouble.

Endangered animals - Koalas

Koalas are lovable, tree-dwelling animals that are like kangaroos national symbol of Australia. Koalas are small bear-like animals, averaging about 9kg (20lb) in weight, they have thick ash grey fur and found in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. But like many other animals too, koalas are also threatened by climate change as the new study carried out by Australian scientists clearly pointed out.

Koalas' main food are eucalyptus leaves and if current climate change continues, these leaves will become inedible which could make koalas life very difficult since there wouldn't be enough food for them to survive. Koalas also receive more than 90 % of its hydration from eucalyptus leaves, since it drinks only when ill or when there's not enough moisture in leaves and eucalyptus really plays key role in their survival.

Global warming and climate change are mainly the result of excessive carbon-dioxide emissions and carbon dioxide has negative impact on eucalyptus since it reduces nitrogen and various other nutrients in eucalyptus leaves. And the shortage of this nutritions means that there is significantly less proteins in these leaves forcing koalas (as well as some other animals) to eat more nutritionally-poor eucalyptus leaves to survive.

Entire food chain of which koalas' survival depends could soon be put in jeopardy since koalas will have to eat ever-increasing quantities of eucalyptus leaves which will lead to food shortage. And there is also battle against competition since koalas aren't only animals that depend on eucalyptus. There are also some other animals like greater gliders, a large gliding possum, many different insect species, all desperately dependent on eucalyptus leaves for their food.