What can we do to combat global warming?

While the world leaders are attending to the COP15 Copenhagen (United Nation Climate Change Conference) in the effort to combat global warming, ordinary civilian like us has got a choice to either play our role pro-actively or just sit back, wait and see.

What can we do to combat global warming?

1. Convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to oxygen (O2)

Carbon dioxide is one of the most important contributor to the greenhouse effect among all the greenhouse gasses. The good news is the carbon dioxide can be converted to oxygen by plants via photosynthesis process. Plants play a role as the carbon sinks by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Everyone can play a part by planting trees or potted plants.

If you are staying in a landed house, please do not convert the garden to the extended car porch. Reserve the green and plant trees.

For apartments or condominiums residents, potted plants will be a good option for you. Effort does not stop in the house, put up 2 or 3 potted plants at your workstation in the office to maximise your contribution.

A part from converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, plants is also a good air filter especially in improving the indoor air quality as it is helpful in eliminating toxic gasses.

2. Buying green

Buying green is a wide topic for serious discussion. In my personal opinion, buying green is not good enough, the better option is not buying anything if the old ones still functionally well.

Let's take television for an example, changing from a CRT television to LCD television is considerable. But, changing a LCD television to a HD LCD television is kind of inconsiderate to the environment. The rational is a CRT television consumed higher wattage (power) as compared to a LCD television, and it generates harmful radiation which LCD TV don't, the benefits is justifiable for a change.

Manufacturing processes cause the carbon dioxide emmision. When a product is in demand, the manufacturer which serves as the supply will produce and fulfil the need, and this contributed to the emmission of carbon dioxide and consume resources.

Take handphone manufacturing as example. The main processor of the mobile phone may be manufactured in US. the other electrical and plastic components are manufactured in Malaysia, China, Taiwan and Thailand. The assembly process in taken place in Indonesia. The end products are then sent to US for worldwide distribution. Based on this scenario, we can conclude that gadget such as handphone is a  high carbon footprint product. Handphone industry alone may have contributed to thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide emmission.

When we are making buying decision, please consider the pre and post carbon footprint of the product.

Read also:

Plants for a healthier living