Green House Gases inPresent day Scenario

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are

necessary for life on this planet. But in the last

200 years, human activities have released more

CO2 than our planet can handle, too many gases

are remaining trapped in our atmosphere, more

than any time in last 8000,ooo years. These

gases which also include methane and nitrous

oxide are causing our planet to warm up-and the

results of this global warming of our planet are

becoming more dramatic every day…

• We are quickly running out of space. Its time to learn the three R’s of the environment:

• REDUCE• REUSE• RECYCLE• Don’t buy things that you don’t need .

Always ,recycle and reuse ,whenever you can !

Reducing the amount of waste you produce is the best way to help the environment. There are

lots of ways you can do that :• Buy products that do not have unnecessary

packaging.• Instead of buying something new you are not

going to use very often, see if you can borrow it from someone you know.

• To reduce pollution due to cars carpool with friends, walk, take a bus or ride your bike.

REDUCE

• Start a compost bin. over time organic matter will decompose to give compost good for soil and also less waste will go to landfill.

• Many newspapers and magazines are online now. Finding them on internet instead of buying the paper versions will only save paper.

• Save energy by turning off lights when not in use.• Save water by turning off faucet while you brush

your teeth.• Lots of families receive a large amount of

unwanted advertisements and mails you can stop mailing and reduce waste by mailing to the following address:

• Direct marketing association mail preference service P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale NY 11735-9008

REUSE• Instead of throwing things away find ways to

reuse them again. For example:• Bring a cloth sac to store instead of getting a

new plastic bag home every time. You can reuse this sac again and again.

• Plastic containers and reusable lunch bags are great ways to take your lunch to school without creating waste.

• Coffee cans ,margarine containers and other containers that people throw away can be used to store food or become imaginative and creative art projects.

•Don’t throw toys , furniture and other things you don’t need any more. you can give them to someone else who probably wants them . Like donation centre, friends or perhaps have a yard sale.•Use all writing pare on both sides•Use paper grocery bags for book covers rather than buying new ones•Use silverware and dishes instead of disposable plates and cups•Store food in reusable plastic container

Recycle• Many things we use everyday can be recycled.

Recycled items are put through a process that makes it possible to create new products out of materials from old ones

• In some towns you can leave your recyclable waste in bins in front of your house , a truck will come and take that waste to recycling center .

• Things like paper, plastic grocery bags , aluminum cans and bottles can often be brought to grocery store for recycling.

• In addition to recycling yourself you can help environment by buying products that contain recycled matter labels of many brands of greeting cards , hand towel, toilet rolls tell you this.

Reducing carbon footprint every second…

Major chunk of carbon footprints can be reduced by following

some measures at every point of life i.e.

On road At school At work At home

1.At homea. Eat wisely

• Make most of seasonal food . • Buying locally grown food supports local

farmers and cuts down fossil fuels used for transportation, which helps us to reduce our overall carbon emissions.

• Vegetables have a lighter carbon footprint than meat so make it a point to at least make one vegetarian meal every week.

Reducing carbon footprint

b. Deal with your thrash• Compost all your organic waste. • Recycle paper , cardboard .glass plastics ,

metals e.t.c.• Lobby your community for improves

recycling programs

c. Think before you buy!• If you don’t need it don’t buy it!

• Climate change central outline 5 factors to consider when making purchases:

• Product efficiency, quality and durability: choose higher-quality , re-usable products that minimum energy input

• Manufacturing processes: choose low impact processes that limit chemical , water and energy resources

• Product content: choose organic or post- consumer material with minimal packaging

• Product origin: choose products made as close to home as possible to limit use of fossil fuels in transporting the

product.• Is the product really necessary? Replace chemical

fertilizers of your garden with non toxic alternatives .use rain barrels to capture water to irrigate your garden and

fiend

• Create an energy efficient home; look for appliances with higher “energy star” label when purchasing new appliances• Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs and remember to

switch off light when you leave home. • Window retrofits improve the efficiency. Make sure your

attic , basement are well insulated and leak proof to maximize passive heating and cooling.

•Sharing windows with neighbors is a great way to prevent heat from escaping to the outside .It also increases your

safety and vibrancy of community.•All Albertans who participate in the federal government’s ‘Eco Energy retrofit programmers” are eligible for a rebate of up to 200 dollars. Not only will you reduce your energy

consumption , it will also save your money.

d. Get your home an energy audit to reduce heating cost

2. At work…2. At work… Think twice about printing-do you really need to Think twice about printing-do you really need to

print or can you read and save on screen.print or can you read and save on screen. Re-use old envelopes by sticking a label over the Re-use old envelopes by sticking a label over the

previous address.previous address. Use both sides of paper while printing copying.Use both sides of paper while printing copying. Buy energy saving office appliances.Buy energy saving office appliances. Request energy efficient retrofits and Request energy efficient retrofits and

upgrades to office buildings.upgrades to office buildings. Monitor how much water your office Monitor how much water your office

uses and how can you reduce wastageuses and how can you reduce wastage Install devices in taps and showers Install devices in taps and showers

that reduce water volume. that reduce water volume. Set the thermostat at 19 Set the thermostat at 19 ٥٥ Celsius Celsius Keep radiators clear .don’t block radiators with Keep radiators clear .don’t block radiators with

furniture . It reduces efficiency and output.furniture . It reduces efficiency and output.

• Remind colleagues to switch off monitors when they are away from the desk and to switch off all unneeded appliances at the end of the work day

• Encourage the staff to commit to taking alternative modes of transportation for their daily commute. This can include options such as car pooling, cycling taking public transit or walking where possible.

• Reduce your staff’s environmental impacts from air travel by using video conferences for meetings.

• If you have a fleet of vehicles , try to use the most energy efficient models possible

• Avoid heating the indoors by leaving doors and windows open when its hot outside. Keep windows and sky lights clean and clear to make the most of daylight

• If you cant measure it , you cant manage it . Check your use of electricity , gas and oil , so you know how much energy your office uses and how much you can reduce.

3. At school …• Walk cycle or use public transport and

encourage your students to the same.• Turn off lights , computer equipments when not

in use and especially at the end of the school .• Car pools as much as possible by giving friends

who are giving to same place as you are.• Use cleaner fuels in your car . Try not to overfill

your tanks. Spills could enter the sewer and eventually enter our lakes.

• At homes use a timer to switch on your block heater one to two hours before you plan to drive.

A warm engine will mean easier starting , fewer emissions and lesser need for idling

• Conduct a audit of hazardous products at school and develop an education program around safe use and storage

• Start a pollution prevention team at school to investigate in school that generate waste and research alternative solutions

• Substitute dangerous chemical products with eco-friendly non toxic products whenever possible ( i.e. non toxic cleaners , water based paints.

4.On road:• Reduce the amount you drive • Walk, bike, carpool and use public transit more

often. Bicycling is the most efficient mode of transport on earth, cycling is also healthy.

• Shrink the travel distances in your daily life. Consider moving to a location where using power is a n easy alternative to driving to work

• Don't idle your vehicle • Keep your vehicle properly tuned and tires

properly inflated • Consider fuel effienciency while buying vehicle• Fly less . Business travelers can take

advantage of new great new technologies such as video conferencing and web casting..

How does air quality affect the How does air quality affect the environmentenvironment??

A wide quality of air pollutants and air issues A wide quality of air pollutants and air issues about Canada’s ecosystem : the quality of the soil about Canada’s ecosystem : the quality of the soil and water are significantly affected by acid rain and water are significantly affected by acid rain and its contributing pollutants; the health of and its contributing pollutants; the health of wildlife is compromised by pollutants such as wildlife is compromised by pollutants such as mercury that affect habitat and food quality; and mercury that affect habitat and food quality; and vegetation health and productivity are harmed by vegetation health and productivity are harmed by a variety of pollutants, including ground-level a variety of pollutants, including ground-level ozone. Damage by air pollution is not always ozone. Damage by air pollution is not always localized; the long range transport of pollutants localized; the long range transport of pollutants can mean that soil , water, plants and animals can mean that soil , water, plants and animals can be affected by far away sources of pollutants. can be affected by far away sources of pollutants.

How can I make a How can I make a difference?difference?• Conserving energy and making better consumer Conserving energy and making better consumer

devices can reduce the amount of emissions devices can reduce the amount of emissions that you and your family emit at home , on the that you and your family emit at home , on the road, at work, and at play. There are many easy road, at work, and at play. There are many easy to do tips to help you take action against air to do tips to help you take action against air pollution. pollution.

• Take advantage of the participation initiatives Take advantage of the participation initiatives and resources that exist to help you reduce your and resources that exist to help you reduce your emissions and energy use and save money at emissions and energy use and save money at the same time.the same time.

• You can also help by donating your time or You can also help by donating your time or resources to help a non governmental clean air resources to help a non governmental clean air group.group.

How does climate change How does climate change effect the environment?effect the environment?

• Canada’s climate is changing temperatures are Canada’s climate is changing temperatures are rising particularly in the arctic , where permafrost is rising particularly in the arctic , where permafrost is thawing and the ocean’s ice cover is shrinking.thawing and the ocean’s ice cover is shrinking.

• These changes could alter natural habitat and force These changes could alter natural habitat and force wildlife to either adapt or be replaced.wildlife to either adapt or be replaced.

• Although arctic ecosystems are expected to be the Although arctic ecosystems are expected to be the hardest hit, other regions of Canada will also be hardest hit, other regions of Canada will also be affected.affected.

• Aquatic ecosystems on both coasts and in rivers , Aquatic ecosystems on both coasts and in rivers , lakes and steams are expected to be affected by lakes and steams are expected to be affected by changes in river and stream runoff.changes in river and stream runoff.

• Temperature increases also result in the wider Temperature increases also result in the wider spread of invasive forest pests that are already spread of invasive forest pests that are already having a dire impact on some of Canada's tree having a dire impact on some of Canada's tree populations .populations .

How can I make a difference?

• Since the burning of fossil fuels is a primary source of the greenhouse gas. Individuals can take action to reduce climatic change by cutting down on fuel consumption at home , at work and on road .

• If you drive a car , it probably accounts for half of your annual gas emissions .

• consider alternative forms of transportation and if you must drive , learn to drive in a much smarter , fuel efficient vehicle in tip top shape,.

How does water quality make a difference ?

• The degradation of water bodies by human waste and industrial activities can seriously harm fish and other wildlife.

• If a substance enters delicately balanced ecosystem of water bodies , it can biologically purify it to a certain degree , certainly not in the quantities discarded today.

• The result of overload is pollution. Toxic chemicals in aquatic ecosystems can cause reduced fertility, genetic deformities, immune system damage, tumors and death in fish and wildlife.

How can I make a difference?• From tap , to the tub , to the toilet you can preserve

and protect our water supply by making small changes in your lifestyle.

• You can reduce water use by healthy home water use habits and repairing leaking taps and retrofitting water appliances.

• Avoid hazardous pesticides.• Don’t misuse the sewage system ,

by throwing waste down the toilet, as this can cause problem in sewage treatment and contribute to land and water pollution.

How do pollution and waste affect environment ?

• By definition pollution is something that is present in the environment and has harmful and unpleasant effects.

• A few effects include overcrowded landfills that encroach on wildlife habitat , toxic substances that cause egg shell thinning , deformities , reproductive dysfunction and acid rain that can cause an alternation to aquatic food web.

How can I make a difference?

• Pollution prevention focuses on removing the causes of pollution rather than managing them after being created.

• You can change your everyday habits and practice pollution prevention to minimize and avoid the creation of pollutants and waste .

• Individuals can contribute by avoiding use of toxic substances , using home energy use , recovering , reusing and recycling and buying green products.

How do habitat and wildlife affect the environment?

• When habitat and species are lost, biodiversity decreases, resulting in ecosystems that are less stable, and more venerable to extreme events and have weakened natural cycle.

• The naturally occurring results of a healthy ecosystem- clean water and air, maintenance of critical nutrient cycle , flood control and pest control could be jeopardized as a result of decrease in biodiversity.

How can I make a How can I make a difference?difference?

Learn as much as you can about species at Learn as much as you can about species at risk by exploring your natural surroundings risk by exploring your natural surroundings and promoting biodiversity in your own and promoting biodiversity in your own backyard, or by visiting one of Canada’s backyard, or by visiting one of Canada’s national parks. national parks.