Environment Friendly

Extract from Pulses, March 2008, page 16

Global warming, simplyput, is the increase in temperature of the earth's atmosphere caused by the burning of fossil fuels and industrial pollutants.

Fossil fuels - coals, natural gas and oil - area non-renewable source of energy. The buring of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and leads to global warming. Effects of global warming include the disappearance of glaciers, rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions such as unpredictable hurricances.

The global warming process can be slowed if carbon emissions decrease. One way of limiting levels of carbon emissions into the atmosphere would be to use fossil fuel by shifting to renewable energy.

Renewable energy essentially refers to energy resoces that are naturally replenishing such as wind, solar and biomass. Currently, renewable technologies are relatively new and expensive, hence making them less competitive than fossil-based sources of energy. However, analysts believe that as more companies and countries begin to shift to renewable energy sources, the cost of these technologies will drop.

Below is an explanation of key renewable energy sources and terms:

SOLAR:Solar energy can converted into other forms of energy such as electrictiy. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells directly convert sunlight into electricity.
In our daily lives, common gadgets such as watches and calculators use such solar cells to power the devices. Solar energyh has also been used for heating and cooking devices. Larger amounts of power generation are produced at multi-megawatt PV plants.

WIND:Strong and constant airflows can run power turbines and in the process generate electricity. Wind farms are becoming increasing prevalent in countries like Germany, Spain, the US, China and India. The intermittency of wind and the amount of land needed to set up these wind farms have been cited as some downsides to wind power.

BIOMASS: Biomass energy is harvested by burning agricultural, human and animal wastes. Agricultural waste is essentially the unwanted or leftover material from agricultural farming - wheat chaff, corn cob or leaves and branches. When biomass is burned, it releases heat.

HYDRO: The energy in a flowing stream of water can be tapped and used. Hydropower can be harnessed through hydroelectric dams, wave power or tidal energy.


KYOTO PROTOCOL: This accord - which came into effect in 2005 - aims to reduce the world's greenhouse emissions that cause global warming. To date, more than 170 countries, including China, India, Brazil and, more recently, Australia, have ratified the protocol. Among countries that have agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, some are oblighed to lower carbon emissions to specific target levels.

Late last year, the Bli climate change talks brought together more than 10,000 scientists, bureaucrats and politicians from over 180 countries. Delegates there discussed further ways to reduc greenhouse emissions beyond 2012 hen the Kyoto Protocol expires.

CARBON TRADING: This is a market-driven mechanism that stems from the Kyoto Protocol, which allows a country - in faliing to meet its emission targets - to buy available credits from other greener countries through the carbon credits market.