Number of questions: [5]
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Posted on 29/11/2007 21:23:20 |
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I would like to know what effect does forest wildfires such as the recent ones in California have on the climate and how widespread would the effect be?
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Gia Johnson (from United States of America)
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While fire plays an important and ecologically beneficial role in many forest ecosystems, most fires today are caused by humans, to convert forests to agricultural land or for other purposes. Recent studies show that the frequency and intensity of forest fires are increasing, for example in the Mediterranean and boreal regions. A further increase in frequency and intensity of wildfires due to the impacts of climate change is expected. The recent fires in California or Greece are indications of the effects of a dryer, warmer climate. Forest fires release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, thus further contributing to climate change. This is particularly relevant in so-called "peat swamp forests", tropical forests which grow on deep layers of organic matter. When these forests burn, up to 20 metres of the sub-soil consisting to a high degree of carbon, goes up in smoke - mainly as carbon dioxide. The large fires in Indonesia in 2001-2003 contributed an estimated 10% to the overall annual CO2 emissions in those years - more than all air transport combined. Preventing ecologically harmful forest fires, such as the recent ones in California, is essential to stabilize our climate.
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Posted on 29/11/2007 18:51:34 |
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What are some of the things that we can do to keep our environment clean and safe so that we are not breathing bad air?
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Julius Ayoola (from United States of America)
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There are several things that we all can do as individuals:
1. Reduce, reuse, recycle: minimize emissions of CO2 and other pollutants by reducing the amount of new products that you consume.
2. Drive an environmentally friendly car - or better still, use public transport. Minimize your travel needs.
3. Regulate the temperature in your house well – not too hot, not too cold. Urban trees can contribute to regulate the temperature in cities, so planting trees near your house can be a way to minimize the need for heating or cooling.
4. Use local, seasonal produce as food, and buy organic food.
5. Switch off all electric appliances and lights when not in use.
There are many other steps that can be taken, and several websites of non-governmental organizations in the US and other countries give further advice (e.g. http://www.earthday.net)
There are also several things that we can (and must) do as societies: we need to better regulate the way in which we consume and often pollute "common" goods, such as clean air and clean water. Recent improvements in air quality in some regions have been achieved through stricter standards for air pollution. These stricter standards have actually also spurred technological innovation and contributed to sustained economic growth. Unfortunately, other regions have seen a worsening of their air quality, to a level where it threatens human health. These issue need to be addressed urgently, for example by improving urban and regional planning and focusing on public transport, instead of cars. We also need to change the way we produce energy, and reduce the use of fossil fuels as our current main source of energy in favor of renewable sources. These are important steps for policy-makers need to take, and we as individual citizens can encourage and support them to do so.
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Posted on 29/11/2007 08:38:01 |
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what is the percentage effect of CO2 in the environment? also i would like to know how the excessive indulgence of building and construction companies is adversly effecting the environment. i am collecting these facts for an awareness poster to be published in a national level student convention. its related to architecture and any kind of facts and suggestion would be welcomed. you rhelp and support would be highly appreciated.
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priyank khare (from India)
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At present, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is at present approximately 385 ppm (parts per million by volume, meaning that there are 385 parts of CO2 in every million parts of air. The concentration changes sligthly with the seasons, as the large forests in the norther hemisphere produce oxygen, and absorb carbon, in the northern summer months.) The concentration has increased, due largely to emissions caused by humans, by about 35% since pre-industrial levels. The construction industry, in particular energy-intensive sectors such as cement production, contribute significantly to these emissions. However, many large companies that produce construction materials have recently undertaken efforts to improve their impact on the environment, and to lower their CO2 emissions. In terms of the 'ecological footprint', sustainably produced timber is a first-rate construction material, and modern building techniques allow building even large structures almost exclusively out of wood. In addition to its esthetic benefits, wood is also a store of carbon, and can be produced with less inputs of energy than most other building materials.
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Posted on 29/11/2007 08:00:54 |
Dear Mr. Tim,
It seems that today’s topic is in line with some issues explored by UK leading experts during a conference by the Forestry Commission in London on 21 November 2007 (see conference programme at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/CCProgramme.pdf/$file/CCProgramme.pdf). To what extent have such conferences on forests and climate change contributed towards reducing climate change impacts?
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Francis Bagambilana (from Tanzania (United Republic of))
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Recent conferences on forests and climate change such as the one you mention have contributed to the understanding amongst experts and the general public that more needs to be done, and quickly, to combat climate change, and they have broadened our understanding of the role of forests in these efforts. The UK is amongst the countries which are leading regional and global efforts for a more effective protection of our climate, taking into account the role that forests can play both for the mitigation of climate change, and also for the adaptation of our environment and societies to deal with the impacts of climate change. However, there are still large gaps in our knowledge about the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems, and how our management of these ecosystems needs to be changed in anticipation of these effects. Scientific symposia and political conferences are a necessary tool to generate and apply this knowledge.
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Posted on 29/11/2007 06:21:28 |
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What strategies do you propose for educating policy-makers in your area of specialization ?
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Centre for Environment Education (from India)
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Awareness raising and education of policy-makers is certainly a very important issue for the conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity. For example, there are numerous direct and indirect links between the health of a forest ecosystem, and the health of the population that depends on the goods and services that forests provide, such as clean drinking water. These important values of forests are not always factored into political decisions at local or national level. To educate policy makers, it is necessary to make the scientific information about the importance of intact, well-managed forests, and of protected areas, available in a 'policy relevant' format. Policy-makers usually have very little time to study issues in great detail, and rely on experts to formulate advice in a concise and easily understandable language. A strategy for educating policy-makers should aim to improve this science-policy interface.
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