• Question: Is it too late to stop global warming?

    Asked by anon-270535 on 17 Nov 2020.
    • Photo: Kirsty Lindsay

      Kirsty Lindsay answered on 17 Nov 2020:


      I hope not

    • Photo: Andrew Stark

      Andrew Stark answered on 17 Nov 2020:


      No, but people have to start thinking about the impact of the way they live. We have to realise that the cheapest and easiest way to go things might not be the most appropriate way. Small things like no using single plastic are the steps that we need to take, and then business will adapt and when shareholders put sustainability above profit then change occurs.

      When sitting in the house make sure you put on a jumper rather than turn on the heating, and if possible walk more rather than driving loads of short journeys.

      Then lastly think about the impact of the things you buy, and if you can afford it then go with the best option for the planet. Then as more people move to that option economies of scale will bring down the price and make it mainstream.

      In the pharmaceutical industry we’re trying hard to reduce and recycle where possible, and doing the easy but environmentally damaging option is being actively discouraged.

    • Photo: Joanna Giles

      Joanna Giles answered on 17 Nov 2020:


      This is a super question! I used to teach this in A-level Biology, and I feel passionately about the environment.
      Scientists have set 9 limits called “Planetary Boundaries” that measure the human impact of the environment.
      These are:
      : the climate crisis (global warming)
      : loss of biodiversity
      : Pollution
      : Ozone levels
      : Ocean acidification
      : Nitrogen cycle
      : Freshwater use
      : Land use
      : Novel entities (unknown stuff we pump into the atmosphere)

      Basically it’s a way to measure and show whether “It’s too late” to stop any of these bad impacts that humans have on the planet. For some of these, yes, it is too late! Isn’t that sad and shocking! At the moment we have indeed crossed the global warming limit, we can see this because we get less ice forming in the arctic and the sea levels are rising each year. Scientists make measurements of the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to try to work out where we stand (we passed the limit of 350ppm a few years ago).

      Once a boundary is crossed, it can’t go back – but we can try to recover.
      Everything you do to minimise global warming will make a difference. Using green energy, walking/cycling more / switching lights off / eating less meat : all of these things will make a difference.

      You can read about the planetary boundaries here:
      https://unfccc.int/news/scientists-say-planetary-boundaries-crossed

      And you can find out how to reduce the impact of climate change here:
      https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/save-the-earth-hub/13-ways-to-save-the-earth-from-climate-change/

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