10 Causes of Global Warming That Are Disasters Waiting to Happen.
A full-blown disaster, the kind you see in Hollywood movies, doesn’t just happen randomly out of nowhere – there’s always a long chain of events that lead up to it. Sadly, if we don’t take action soon, the world may experience another tragic global warming disaster soon enough. Let’s take a look at 10 causes of global warming that are disasters waiting to happen...
1) Solar Panels are toxic.
It’s no surprise that pollution and greenhouse gases have a huge impact on global warming, but if you live in an area that gets a lot of sunlight and has a few trees, maybe it’s time to stop looking at solar panels as just an interesting topic of discussion. Instead, think about them as a viable way to reduce your carbon footprint on our planet. Solve part of your environmental problems with solar panels! Plus, there are other benefits too—namely lower electricity bills. In some cases, homeowners can save up to 60% on their electric bill by using solar power. Talk about global warming solutions!
2) Wind turbines are killing birds and bats.
When it comes to global warming, a problem that weighs heavier on many Americans’ minds is climate change—and in particular, how humans cause global warming. The most popular explanation for what causes global warming and climate change is (you guessed it) human activity: burning fossil fuels like coal, gasoline, and natural gas; growing animal feed crops with fertilizer made from fossil fuels; and deforestation all release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. But there are plenty of other causes of global warming out there, too. Here are 10 you might not have heard about...yet. And some might surprise you. For example, did you know that wind turbines kill birds and bats? It’s true! And yet we continue to build them...weird, right? Or what about cows? Turns out they emit methane gas through their burps and farts. If we could stop farting cows, global warming would be a thing of the past!
3) Renewable energy is unreliable.
As an example, if every country stopped emitting greenhouse gases right now, global warming would still continue for a few years. This is because there’s a lag time between greenhouse gases entering our atmosphere and their impact. In other words, it takes years for global warming to kick in—about 20–30 years, according to some estimates. After that time passes, temperatures will keep rising because greenhouse gases stay in our atmosphere for many decades or even centuries (depending on what they are). Thus, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power aren’t entirely reliable when it comes to curbing global warming. They could be used as part of a solution, but not as primary sources of energy.
4) Natural gas comes with its own dangers.
The benefits of natural gas are clear: It’s cleaner than coal and far cheaper than most other sources of power. However, it comes with its own set of dangers, such as methane leaks. The scientific consensus is that natural gas is better for global warming than coal — but we need to be extremely careful when extracting it if we want these benefits. (See also: 10 Causes of Global Warming That Are Disasters Waiting to Happen.)
While burning natural gas releases less carbon dioxide than burning coal, one study found that fracking operations leak a significant amount of methane into the atmosphere. This greenhouse gas traps more heat in our atmosphere, which can cause global warming effects like rising sea levels and extreme weather events. If left unchecked, a 4% leakage rate could negate all climate change mitigation from switching from coal to natural gas, according to another study.
5) Coal is worse than ever.
Coal is one of many sources that contribute to global warming, but it may be among the worst. It’s responsible for releasing high levels of carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes significantly to global warming. And while coal is commonly used in many countries, there are alternative energy sources out there—and luckily they’re getting more and more attention as time goes on. If you want to help protect your planet from global warming, look into alternative energy sources like solar power or wind power. You can even purchase an electric car if you live in an area where public transportation isn’t readily available! Whatever you do, though, don’t use coal-based products; they only make global warming worse.
6) Solar and wind require water for cooling.
Solar and wind require water for cooling, whereas fossil fuels (coal, natural gas) can use dry cooling. Dry cooling does not require as much water, but uses more energy (and thus creates more C.O.2). Global warming is caused by our release of greenhouse gases into Earth’s atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide (C.O.2), methane (C.H.4), nitrous oxide (N.2.O), and fluorinated gases. The main human sources are fossil fuel-burning power plants and vehicle emissions. Greenhouse gases stay in Earth’s atmosphere for decades to centuries, accumulating over time. These gases act like a blanket around Earth, trapping heat that would otherwise escape from our planet into space. Global warming will continue until we stop adding new greenhouse gases to our atmosphere or find ways to remove them from it again.
7) Hydroelectric dams kill fish downstream.
1 in 3 dams on rivers worldwide, including those created by hydroelectric dams, are killing fish by disrupting their natural habitat. The problem with hydroelectric dams is that they kill fish. While some dams may have minimal effects on ecosystems, others (particularly small, run-of-the-river dams) can have devastating consequences for fish populations and entire aquatic ecosystems. Large hydroelectric projects also have been linked to a variety of social and environmental issues affecting indigenous communities downstream. For example, a dam in India led to an increase in cases of malaria among local villagers due to changes in water temperature and oxygen levels. In addition, many dams displace or force relocation of local residents due to flooding caused by construction or operation of these structures.
8) Carbon taxes have limited benefits.
Like most taxes, carbon taxes are only truly effective if everyone is involved. However, in a globalized economy, it’s possible that companies and citizens may choose not to participate in carbon taxes. In such cases, these businesses will effectively off-shore their tax burden while continuing to consume as much fuel as they want—which could accelerate climate change even more rapidly than without a carbon tax at all. Some argue that developing countries should be exempt from carbon taxes because they’re likely to see less benefit from clean energy than wealthier nations. Still others say developed countries should institute carbon tariffs on goods coming from countries with little or no regulation on fossil fuels, as a way to encourage those countries to institute similar measures.
9) Nuclear plants have severe risks associated with them.
Nuclear plants have severe risks associated with them: Some are long-term (e.g., waste disposal), while others are more immediate and pressing (e.g., accidents or terrorist attacks). After studying biological science, you’ll probably be able to understand these problems and how they could be overcome. The key is to think about whether a problem is solvable—and then try to find a solution. You may not succeed, but it’s better than doing nothing at all! Remember that our world needs scientists like you to help us solve its biggest challenges. Remember also that your friends and family need you to do your best as well! Remember that our world needs scientists like you to help us solve its biggest challenges. Remember also that your friends and family need you to do your best as well! Remember that our world needs scientists like you to help us solve its biggest challenges. Remember also that your friends and family need you to do your best as well!
10) Green lifestyles have a carbon footprint too.
Green lifestyles aren’t always as eco-friendly as you might think. If you’re thinking about getting a biology degree or going into biological sciences, your choice could have long-term effects on our global warming crisis. So before you decide whether to go all in for that environmental science degree, read up on these 10 causes of global warming that are disasters waiting to happen. You may just change your mind.
When it comes to global warming, we tend to focus on big corporations and their carbon emissions. But individuals can contribute significantly to climate change too—in part because they don’t realize how much they actually impact it. Most people only see personal emissions when they pay their electric bill or fill up at a gas station, but there are other ways individuals can contribute to global warming that get left out of green initiatives and renewable energy plans alike.
