Why we need to go green

The green revolution is quickly catching pace with more people accessing information on the need to be more mindful of energy saving and environmental friendly practices. A quick look around you easily gives you reason to reassess the way you are living and how you use various resources to achieve your production needs as well as your daily requirements.

Drivers of the green revolution are the global warming effect of greenhouse gases and the effects of pollution on the environment. Before we go further, what are greenhouse gases, and how does pollution affect the environment.

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap warmth within the earth’s atmosphere. This warmth should be released from the atmosphere to keep temperatures within the right range for nature to balance itself. The effect of these greenhouse gases’ accumulation is that there is increased evaporation and humidity in the air, leading to dried water bodies and loss of livelihood for those depending on these water bodies, heavier rainfall in some areas and less rain in others, melting of glaciers thus rising sea an ocean levels, and irregular rainfall patterns. Irregular rainfall patterns lead to reductions in the agricultural output in places that rely on rain-fed agriculture. We all know the effect of inadequate food on communities and nations.

Pollution on the other hand is the presence of unwanted substances in the environment. There is water pollution, soil pollution and air pollution. Pollutants are mostly produced by heavy industries and human activities that release toxic substances either to the air, water or into the soil. The effect of pollutants are disease, reduced produce from soil that is polluted, deformities in affected people, global warming where greenhouse gases are released and increased spending for nations as they attempt to regulate the release of pollutants and mitigate their effects.

Going green is all about reducing pollution and the greenhouse gases production. Global warming is a monster that needs to be confronted through action and not tough talk. The dependence on fossil fuels that release carbon compounds when burnt is a major driver of greenhouse gas production. This explains why one of the pillars of going green is using efficient burners of fossil fuels and exploration of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy. Greenhouse gases produced through other avenues also need to be reduced so that the total production of greenhouse gases is within the range that nature can comfortably handle.

Pollution on the other hand requires more effort by governments, the international community and independent bodies involved in fighting it. It has the most immediate and devastating effects on whole communities who come into contact with pollutants or polluted environments. Diseases such as cancer and birth deformities are on the increase and they have been attributed to pollutant exposure. Pollution is best tacked by having rules that regulate the production processes, the types of materials that can be used and the toxicity of wasted that is permissible before they are released to the environment. It is not enough to have these rules but their enforcement is equally important.

The most hit countries by global warming and its effects, and pollution driven negative effects are third world countries. These countries lack the capacity to enforce rules against pollution and the resources to mitigate the effects of pollution and global warming. It is important for all people to evaluate how environmental friendly they are and their energy use so that they can make changes to the way they live and exploit the environment. Investment should be done in the research and development of alternative energy so that there is a shift from fossil to other energy sources.

By reducing our carbon footprints, we will be saving our environment from destruction and ultimately saving the earth from going to ruin.