Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, also called greenhouse gas mitigation, is a necessary strategy for controlling global warming.

There are two major approaches to slowing the buildup of greenhouse gases. One is to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The other is to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by storing the gas or its carbon component somewhere else, a strategy known as carbon sequestration or carbon capture. Carbon capture: One way to keep carbon dioxide emissions from reaching the atmosphere is to preserve and plant more trees. Trees, especially young and fast-growing ones, soak up a great deal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon atoms in new wood. Worldwide, forests are being cleared at an alarming rate, particularly in the tropics. In many areas, there is little regrowth as land loses fertility or is changed to other uses, such as farming or housing developments. In addition, when trees are burned to clear land, they release stored carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Slowing the rate of deforestation and planting new trees can help counteract the buildup of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide gas can also be captured directly. Carbon dioxide has traditionally been injected into depleted oil wells to force more oil out of the ground or seafloor. The same process can be used to store carbon dioxide released by a power plant, factory, or any large stationary source. For example, since 1996 this process has been used at a natural gas drilling platform off the coast of Norway. Carbon dioxide brought to the surface with the natural gas is captured, compressed, and then injected into an aquifer deep below the seabed from which it cannot escape. In most cases, the process of carbon capture would also involve transporting the gas in compressed form to suitable locations for underground storage. Deep ocean waters could also absorb a great deal of carbon dioxide, although the environmental effects may be harmful to ocean life. The feasibility and environmental effects of these options are under study by international teams. Energy sources: The total worldwide consumption of fossil fuels is increasing by several percent per year. However, energy use around the world is slowly shifting away from fuels that release a great deal of carbon dioxide toward fuels that release somewhat less of this heat-trapping gas. Wood was the first major source of energy used by humans. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the mid1700s, coal became the dominant energy source. By the mid-1800s oil had replaced coal in dominance, fueling the internal combustion engines that were eventually used in automobiles. By the 1900s, natural gas began to be used worldwide for heating and lighting. In this progression, combustion of natural gas releases less carbon dioxide than oil, which in turn releases less of the gas than do either coal or wood. However, a reversal of this trend may be seen as reserves of oil are used up. Other fuel sources such as tar sands (also known as oil sands) are beginning to be utilized. Producing oil from tar sands involves extraction and refining processes that release carbon dioxide. In addition, the relative abundance of coal reserves in countries such as China and the United States may lead to a new upswing in the use of coal for generating electricity. Newer technologies for cleaner coal-burning power plants may help offset the effects. Significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions can only be achieved by switching away from fossil-fuel energy sources. Nuclear power plants release no carbon dioxide at all, but nuclear energy is controversial for reasons of safety, security, and the high costs of nuclear waste disposal. Solar power, wind power, and hydrogen fuel cells also emit no greenhouse gases. These energy sources can be practical, low-pollution alternatives to fossil fuels. Other alternatives include fuels made from plants, such as biodiesel (made from used and new vegetable oil) and ethanol (a plant-based gasoline additive). Use of these fuels can help reduce total carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which uses both an electric motor and a gasoline or diesel engine, emits less carbon dioxide than conventional automobiles.

Human beings face global warming with a huge population at risk. The potential consequences are so great that many of the worlds leading scientistsand increasingly, politicians, business leaders, and other citizensare calling for international cooperation and immediate action to counteract the problem. Governments are often the first institutions that the public looks to for big solutions. They represent the people of the region, and are expected to make decisions for the good of the public. All levels of government have the ability to affect taxes and laws that can help in the fight against climate change: Local governments can implement and enforce city building codes, improve public transit systems, implement full garbage recycling and composting programs. Regional governments can set fuel efficiency standards, establish taxes on carbon dioxide emissions, and set efficient building codes. Central governments can set standards and mandatory targets for greenhouse gas reductions for industry, provinces and states to follow. They can subsidize renewable energy sources, remove subsidies from fossil fuel energy sources, tax carbon and develop national programs for individuals who want to build low emission housing. Countries must work together through global agreements. Global agreements create a common level of understanding and allow countries to create collaborative goals, share resources, and work with each other towards global warming solutions. The core international law around climate change is the UN framework convention on climate change and its more detailed agreement, the Kyoto protocol. Countries have agreed that by the end of 2012, theyll have collectively reduced global greenhouse gas emissions by about a third of what they are today. Direct manifestations of a widespread and long-term trend toward warmer global temperatures. Throughout the twentieth century further scientific work confirmed the seriousness of the problem, leading to the UN taking a decision for setting up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This body was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The panel comprises thousands of the top climate scientists from around the world and releases a report every six years describing the state of scientific knowledge on global warming. Since, then the IPCC has brought out three major assessment reports and a number of special reports by mobilizing the best talent from across the globe to assess all aspects of climate change .The IPCCs Fourth Assessment Report, released in 2007, and offered the strongest scientific consensus to date on global warming. The panel concluded that it is very likely (more than 90 percent probability) that human activities are responsible for most of the warming since the mid20th century; that it is extremely unlikely (less than 5 percent probability) that the warming is due to natural variability; and that it is very likely the warming is not due to natural causes alone. This level of certainty is extremely high, given the complexity of the climate system and of the influence of human activities on the climate. In its 2007 report the IPCC projected temperature increases for several different scenarios, depending on the magnitude of future greenhouse gas emissions. For a moderate scenarioin which emissions grow slowly, peak around the year 2050, and then fallthe IPCC report projected further warming of 1.1 to 2.9 Celsius degrees (1.9 to 5.2 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. For a high-emissions scenarioin which emissions continue to increase significantly and finally level off at the end of the centurythe IPCC report projected further warming of 2.4 to 6.4 Celsius degrees (4.3 to 11.5 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. This would represent the fastest rate of global warming since the end of the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago. With the increased warming of the Earth it could lead to catastrophic events that could endanger living things on our planet

The IPCC cautioned that even if greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere ceased growing, the climate would continue to warm for an extended period as a result of past emissions, and with more dramatic effects than were observed during the 20th century. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, scientists project severe climate changes. In October 2007 a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warned that climate models used to project future global warming may have been overly optimistic. The study found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels had increased 35 percent from 1990 to 2006, a rate of increase far higher than most climate models had assumed. The researchers reported that the average rate of growth in carbon dioxide levels was 1.3 percent during the period from 1990 to 1999, but 3.3 percent from 2000 to 2006. In 2000 an estimated 7 billion metric tons of carbon were released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels; by 2006 that number had grown to 8.4 billion metric tons, according to the study. Scientists pointed to the unexpectedly rapid melting of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean during the summer of 2007 as evidence that climate models were failing to predict how quickly the climate was changing. While discussing the effects that greenhouse gases have on the worlds atmosphere, we prefer the term climate change. Global warming simple isnt an accurate description. But we do like one thing about this description: it reminds us that the problem we face isnt just local or national, its global. Humanity is experiencing a global problem and that problem requires a global solution. The UN has a very important part to play in fighting climate change. It provides a forum for governments to work together and hammer out solutions to international problems. Global problem solving is a long, slow process where different nations bring competing agendas to the table. International cooperation is required for the successful reduction of greenhouse gases. The first international conference addressing the issue was held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, informally known as the Earth Summit, 150 countries pledged to confront the problem of greenhouse gases by signing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). To date, more than 180 nations have ratified the UNFCCC, which commits nations to stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would avoid dangerous human interference with the climate. This is to be done so that ecosystems can adapt naturally to global warming, food production is not threatened, and economic development can proceed in a sustainable manner. The nations at the Earth Summit agreed to meet again to translate these good intentions into a binding treaty for emissions reductions.

The UN framework convention on climate change showed the world it was serious about tackling climate change when it met in Kyoto in 1997. 160 nations drafted an agreement known as the Kyto Protocol an amendment to the UNFCCC and a commitment to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by a set amount and before a set deadline. This treaty set mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Industrialized nations that ratify the treaty are required to cut their emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels. This reduction is to be achieved no later than 2012, and commitments to start achieving the targets are to begin in 2008. Developing nations are not required to commit to mandatory reductions in emissions. Under the Kyto rules, industrialized nations are expected to take the first steps because they are responsible for most emissions to date and have more resources to devote to emissions-reduction efforts. A global reduction of 5.2 % below 1990 levels is actually a 24.2 % reduction today because of how much emissions have increased. The protocol could not go into effect unless industrialized nations accounting for 55 percent of 1990 greenhouse gas emissions ratified it. That requirement was met in November 2004 when Russia approved the treaty, and it went into force in February 2005. By the end of 2006, 166 nations had signed and ratified the treaty. Notable exceptions included the United States and Australia.

In 1998 the United Statesthen the worlds single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions became a signatory to the Kyto Protocol. However, in 2001 U.S. president George W. Bush withdrew support for the treaty. He claimed that the treatys goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions would be too costly and would harm the U.S. economy. He also claimed the treaty put an unfair burden on industrialized nations. Opposition to the treaty in the United States was spurred by the oil industry, the coal industry, and other enterprises that manufacture or depend on fossil fuels. These opponents claimed that the economic costs to carry out the Kyto Protocol could be as much as $300 billion, due mainly to higher energy prices. Proponents of the Kyto Protocol believed the costs would prove more modest$88 billion or lessmuch of which would be recovered as Americans switched to more efficient appliances, vehicles, and industrial processes. The Kyto Protocol, which expires in 2012, is only a first step in addressing greenhouse gas emissions. To stabilize or reduce emissions in the 21st century, much stronger and broader action is required. In part this is because the Kyto provisions did not take into account the rapid industrialization of countries such as China and India, which are among the developing nations exempted from the protocols mandatory emissions reductions. However, developing nations are projected to produce half the worlds greenhouse gases by 2035. Leaders of these nations argue that emissions controls are a costly hindrance to economic development. In the past, prosperity and pollution have tended to go together, as industrialization has always been a necessary component of an economys development. Whether or not an economy can grow without increasing greenhouse gas emissions at the same time is a question that will be critical as nations such as China and India continue on the path of industrialization. In 2007 the European Union (EU) took the initiative in coming up with a new international plan to address global warming. At a green summit held in March, the 27 nations of the EU reached a landmark accord that went above and beyond the Kyto Protocol in setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement set ambitious targets for the EU overall, but goals for individual EU nations and rules of enforcement were to be determined through additional negotiations. In the accord EU leaders agreed to reduce emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020or by as much as 30 percent if nations outside the EU joined in the commitments. They also agreed that renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, would make up 20 percent of overall EU energy consumption by 2020 (an increase of about 14 percent). The accord also called for a 10 percent increase in the use of plant-derived fuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol. In addition to these targets, EU leaders agreed to work out a plan to promote energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs, following the example of countries such as Australia and Chile that are officially phasing out less-efficient incandescent light bulbs. Time to resolve this contradiction is running out and the world hopes to finalize a successor to the Kyoto protocol in Copenhagen in December 2009, where there will be tremendous pressure on India and China to make emission reduction commitments. Even if we assume that developing countries will eventually not have to make binding commitments, there will be moral pressure to be seen to be responsible and laying down an agenda for action for the good of the world and ourselves too. According to International Energy Agency 2005 data, in terms of energy intensity of income, the global good boys (among countries which matter) are Denmark, Japan, Brazil and Germany. On carbon dioxide emission intensity of energy consumption, the top slots are taken by Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Korea and Mexico. Sweden, Norway, Brazil and Denmark lead in low emission to income. The bad boys, according to all these measures, are Russia, South Africa, Australia, China and, to an extent, the US. India is way behind the rich countries and China. But India's energy consumption and emissions will be rapidly rising as high growth takes place. So the mitigation will have to come from

becoming more energy-efficient and reducing CO2 emissions to energy consumption. As long as the country does better than, say, the US on these measures, its slate should be clean. But that will not be easy as the US will be rapidly improving its own performance. But this should not be enough. Global leaders in sustainable development -- Norway, Sweden, Japan and Brazil -- should be the role models. The Asia Pacific Partnership on clean Development and Climate (APP) is a coalition of Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, The Republic of Korea and the United States. The stated goal is to work together to develop and utilize new technologies that reduce air pollution, increase energy security, and sustain economic growth. The APP has no emission reduction plans or targets. The political climate surrounding global warming is incredibly unfair. Although the major contributors to global warming have historically been the richest, most industrialized nations, now that those nations are waking up to the dangers of global warming, theyre trying to hold developing nations to environmental standards that they themselves did not face. Worse still, the developing nations face the same environmental challenges as other countries, but without the financial resources to prepare for them. Developed countries like the United States are bringing about awareness on global warming at all levels. At a national level, the United States has so far relied on voluntary programs to reduce emissions. For example, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, product manufacturers, local utilities, and retailers have collaborated to implement the Energy Star program. This program rates appliances for energy use and gives some money back to consumers who buy efficient machines. The U.S. government has also focused on targets for greenhouse gas intensity, which is the ratio of emissions per unit of economic output. For the economy as a whole, greenhouse gas intensity is usually expressed as emissions per dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). Greenhouse gas intensity targets contrast with absolute targets, which limit total emissions (as in the Kyto Protocol). Greenhouse gas intensity can decline even when total emissions rise. In other words, if the economy grows faster than emissions, greenhouse gas intensity goes down while the total amount of emissions goes up. This has already been the trend in the past few decades in the United States. Emissions intensity has decreased due to improvements in energy efficiency and rapid economic growth in relatively clean sectors, such as information technology and services. However, total U.S. emissions have grown steadily. For example, the emissions intensity of carbon dioxide in the United States decreased by 17 percent from 1990 to 2002, even as total carbon dioxide emissions grew by 18 percent over the same period. This trend of decreasing emissions intensity is expected to continue in the future. In 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark environmental rulingand its first relating to the issue of global warmingthat greenhouse gases are air pollutants as defined by the Clean Air Act. The court also ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reevaluate its policy of not regulating carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. The lawsuit, Massachusetts et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency et al., was filed against the EPA by 12 states and 13 environmental groups that had grown frustrated with the agencys inaction on global warming issues. Apart from the national government, many state and local governments are also working to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In 2005 three major initiatives were announced. First, the government of California committed to return to 1990 levels by 2020, and reduce emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Second, seven Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states established the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a mandatory program to limit emissions from power plants (while allowing emitters to trade allocations). Third, the mayor of Seattle announced the Climate Protection Initiative, committing Seattle to meet the original Kyto Protocol target for the United States (before it withdrew support for the treaty) of 7 percent reductions below 1990 levels. Since then, hundreds of other city mayors representing about 50 million Americans have committed to this initiative.

Individuals, too, can take steps to curb their own emissions. The same choices that reduce other kinds of pollution work against greenhouse gases. Every time a consumer buys an energy-efficient appliance, uses energy-saving light bulbs, adds insulation to a house, recycles materials, chooses to live near work, or commutes by public transportation, he or she is fighting global warming. Climate change is not something only 'they' have to worry about because it is 'their' creation. It affects India and other poor countries in the tropics intensively and their policymakers have to balance two opposite imperatives. India is also facing the effects of global warming -The floods in West Bengal were an obvious sign to the looming imbalance in the environment. The rate of production of crops like wheat and rice has gone down by 10 per cent in the last three years. The year 2006 was the hottest since 1880. Coastal areas like West Bengal, east coast and Maldives are vulnerable to increase of water level due to melting of ice caps. The apple economy of Himachal is getting hugely destabilized. Lower snowfall and higher temperatures are making it difficult to grow apples at below 6,000 ft, where they have been grown for almost a hundred years. The Gangotri glacier, which ensures a perennial flow in the Ganga, is melting. What will happen to the hundreds of millions in the Gangetic plains who live by the river, if it becomes a purely seasonal flow? Where the river meets the sea, climate change is flooding islands in the Sundarban area. Two of them are gone, making their former inhabitants among the first climate change refugees. In improving its performances, India will have both natural advantages and disadvantages. India has to do its bit to both mitigate global warming by reducing emission of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide) and simultaneously promote economic development and growth to remove poverty, resulting in higher energy consumption and emission of greenhouse gases. India holds 16.9% of the worlds population but currently accounts for 5% of global CO2 emissions. As our country becomes increasingly urbanized and industrialized, that number could skyrocket but government agencies and organizations alike are taking the initiative to ensure that India doesnt become a major polluter. Since 2001, India has spent over 2% of its GDP on responding to climate change. The Indian government has been working hard at improving the efficiency of non-renewable power providers across the country for the past decade. For example, the government lowered coal subsidies. This loss of funding motivated coal plants to increase their efficiency and even replace some of the coal with natural gas. Some other energy efficient ventures that the Indian government has undertaken are increased emphasis on train transportation and shipping, which should boost our countrys overall fuel economy; converting 84,000 public cars and buses so that they run on compressed natural gas, rather than oil or diesel; improving the efficiency of wood stoves in 34 million homes, reducing the number of trees being cut down every year. With rising incomes the household use of biomass as a source of energy (the twigs village women use to fire the chullah) will decline, giving rise to the consumption of fossil fuels and tradable energy. Also as incomes and domestic costs rise, the difference between nominal and PPP income will go down. A falling rate of growth of PPP income, other things remaining equal, will not make energy intensity (measured against PPP) look pretty. On the other hand, there will be tremendous opportunities on two counts. The modern parts of the economy -- manufacturing, transport, and housing -- have made barely a beginning in seeking to become more energy-efficient. A low base will make good progress initially easier. A key target will be acquiring and using clean coal technology for power generation. Not only is the technology available, international assistance to access it is already forthcoming, via the World Bank. India's greatest asset is, of course, sunlight, which is free. The cost of solar power is going down and there is an enormous future in this, calling for a national programme of incentives (beyond what is

already there) to make solar power more attractive and thereby offering economies of scale to the manufacturers of semiconductors for photovoltaic cells. Plus, there will be tremendous gains from maintaining and strengthening the country's forest cover which acts as a carbon sink, while preventing soil erosion and water runoff. India has become a leader in renewable energy. Renewable energy currently supplies 8% of our countrys total energy needs. India is now among the top ten wind energy producing countries in the world. Indias per capita emissions are very low about one-twentieth of the Unites States and a tenth of Europes. Nevertheless, the country faces substantial pressures to reduce its emissions based on its large population and arguably unsustainable ways. Recently, the Prime Minister's Office issued directives to formulate a plan to mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change. The plan is being prepared on a national level. Firstly, we have to accept the fact that India is contributing to global warming and to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. We have been in denial mode so that we are not forced to reduce emissions and achieve targets. Developed countries like USA and other European nations argue that India is the fourth largest contributor to GHG and therefore should work to achieve emission control targets. According to me, India is the harshest sufferer of global warming. The government's objective is to work for coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders to reduce GHG. Formulation of a plan to study impact and efforts to mitigate effects of global warming and climate change has already started. Emphasis needs to be laid on conservation and strict punishments for over energy consumption, discouraging private transport by taxing and encouraging public transport as it can reduce the pollution and CO2 emitted from numerous vehicles. To serve this purpose, there has been introduction of CNG for public and private transport in metropolitan areas and the metro rail. Luxury goods like AC, refrigerators, Plasma TV (they consume nine times power) should be taxed and instead local indigenous system of cooling should be encouraged. One of the world's largest aforestation efforts in recent times called Green India, covering six million hectares of degraded forest land, is underway in India. India can afford these alternatives. New laws and regulations must be introduced to bring the situation under control. Instead of doing lip-service on the issues regarding environment, the government must focus on alternative means of power generation like wind and solar. Its possible to generate 60 per cent more output using wind. Power plants are major contributors to GHG amounting to almost 40 per cent of GHG emissions. Now there is a feeling that our power plants should be super critical, which will substantially reduce GHG. There are lot of initiatives on these lines, such as stress on renewable energy like solar and wind to reduce GHG emissions.The irony lies in the methods taken by the Indian government. The government, reportedly, spends 3000 Euros for obtaining subsidy on three per cent of nuclear energy. Alternatives are available, but we are not looking at it. With the Governments and the individual countries doing their part to protect our planet, its time we as individuals start taking measures to prevent global warming. There is only one way to stop global warming before it becomes a real threat. That way is to stop emitting the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Only then will the problem of global warming be solved. So far, global warming hasnt had a huge impact on most peoples lives. The first human victims of climate change are the Inuit of the arctic, whose traditional world is increasingly unstable because of melting permafrost and disappearing ice; the residents of low-lying islands, some of whom have already been forced to move because the rising sea engulfed their homes; and those hit hardest by increasingly violent weather events. These people are trying very hard to get the attention of the rest of humanity. To protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations, we must reduce our emissions of heat-trapping gases by using the technology, know-how, and practical solutions already at our disposal. But the vast majority of us continue our day to-day activities, oblivious to the threat. There

are many things we can do as individuals to save our planet and to protect our future generations from suffering. Reduce electricity usage around the home The largest source of greenhouse gases is electric power generation. The average home actually contributes more to global warming than the average car. This is because much of the energy we use in our homes comes from power plants which burn fossil fuel to power our electric products. We can help immediately by becoming more energy efficient. Reducing our use of oil, gasoline and coal also sets an example for others to follow. Making energy conservation a part of our daily awareness is essential to the goal of reducing global warming. Energy consumption at home:

In order to reduce the amount of electricity used in our homes we can: Switch to energy-efficient lighting Replace the familiar incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. CFL bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light, last much longer and use only a quarter of the energy consumed by conventional bulbs. Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with CFL bulbs. For each CFL bulb replacement, youll lower your electricity bill and keep nearly 700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulbs lifetime. Replacing just one 60watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you a lot of money over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.LED bulbs are also energy-saving, but have a narrower range of application. Advances in LED bulb technology, however, are leading to more applications for these bulbs at home. LEDs are more efficient than CFLs and do not have issues surrounding disposal, as do the CFLs. If every family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate billions of pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking millions of cars off the road. Improve the efficiency of home appliances Home appliances vary greatly in terms of energy-efficiency and operating costs. Do you really

need that second fridge? The more energy-efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run. Buy energy-efficient appliances when shopping for a new appliance .Do this especially when shopping for a major appliance such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or air-conditioner - select the one with the highest energy efficiency rating. By opting for a refrigerator with the Energy Star label indicating it uses at least 15 percent less energy you can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in total. Consider a wireless e-reader...the trees will thank you! Consider a laptop...they take much less energy than a desktop. Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry Reduce energy needed for cooling Air conditioners alone use up to 1/6th of the electricity .You can reduce much of the need for air conditioning, and enjoy a cost savings benefit, by using passive techniques to help cool your home. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning - People living in the colder regions can add insulation to their walls and attic. Install weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows. Turning down the heat while sleeping at night or away during the day, and keeping temperatures moderate at all times. Setting the thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. This can lower heating costs more than 25 percent and reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool their homes. The second largest source of greenhouse gases is transportation. When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every liter of gasoline you save not only helps your budget; it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Practice fuel-efficient driving Every 4 liters of gasoline burned puts 26 pounds (11804g) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can boost the overall fuel-efficiency of your car as much as 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and attention to your style of driving.

Buy a fuel-efficient car even more important is the choice of car or truck you buy. The new hybrid cars, using efficient gas-electric engines, can cut global warming pollution by 30% or more. Recycle air conditioner coolant if your car has an air conditioner; make sure you recycle its coolant whenever you have it serviced. You can save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year by doing this. Drive less less driving means fewer emissions. Youll save energy by taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking; besides they are great forms of exercise. Try consolidating trips to the mall or longer routine drives. Encourage car-pooling to work...everyone ends up saving. Invest in an electric bike or an electric car. Explore your communitys mass transit system

Conserve energy in the home and yard

 Start compost in your backyard. Yard maintenance contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions. Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. So what can we do about this? Reduce lawn size Lawn size can be reduced by adding shrubs, beds, ground covers and mulched areas. Try creating a lawn area small enough to be mowed using an efficient reel (push) mower. Lawn edging can be set low enough to mow over, reducing or eliminating the need for a weed-eater. Recycle whenever possible Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can't be recycled. Whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans, magazines, cardboard, glass - anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products. If there isn't a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually and by recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually Eat locally produced food Today , the food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. All of this traffic in food requires staggering amounts of fuel - generally by refrigerated airplanes or transport trucks. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Shop Locally. Find farmers' markets and other sources of sustainable grown food near you Eat vegetarian meals Vegetarian food requires much less energy to produce. Enjoying vegetarian meals results in significant CO2 savings. Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate. This can contribute saving up to 5000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Choose clean energy options If you can choose your electricity supplier, pick a company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources. Buy clean energy certificates and carbon offsets Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution with wind certificates or green tags, which represent clean power you can add to the nations energy grid in place of electricity from fossil fuels. A carbon offset is an emission reduction credit which can be purchased by individuals, businesses and governments to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions. While it may be difficult to adopt some of these suggestions, any amount of energy saved is significant. Even small changes are worthwhile, as they spark our awareness. As we become more aware of the importance of saving energy, we find ways of saving where possible. The Energy Department says that were going to continue to put more and more CO2 in the atmosphere each year not just additional CO2 but more than we put in the year before. Energy departments in a few countries provide their consumers a free report card to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades. Apart from these we can bring about a change in a few of our day-to-day activities

 We can carry a tote bag while going out for shopping, so plastic is out!! Wash clothing in cold water...and hang them to dry. Clean with vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda. Many cleaning products have harmful chemicals in them. Use natural products. Use a reusable water bottle. This will cut down on the amount of plastic that ends up in the landfill. Plastic can leach harmful chemicals into your water. Choose an aluminum or stainless steel water bottle. Consider cloth diapers. Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them. Teach children the value of our earth. They are our future. It's also a good idea to turn off the water when you're not using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You'll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource. If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. Encourage Others to Conserve. Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment. These few steps will take us a long way toward reducing our energy use and our monthly budget. Less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. If we do follow that path, even for another ten years, it guarantees that we will have dramatic climate changes that produce what I would call a different planet one without sea ice in the Arctic; with worldwide, repeated coastal tragedies associated with storms and a continuously rising sea level; and with regional disruptions due to freshwater shortages and shifting climatic zones. The contribution that we the people make to save our environment does not go unnoticed. Environmental activist Wangari Maathai of Kenya received the 2004 Nobel peace prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.Through more than 30 years of efforts with Kenya's Green Belt Movement, Matthai worked to develop grassroots solutions to environmental problems. In the process she encouraged Kenyan women to plant over 30 million trees to help tackle the massive problems of deforestation in their country. The Nobel Peace Prize committee praised her for thinking globally and acting locally. On 20 April 2002, Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Nainital, India was elected Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations panel established by the WMO and UNEP to assess information relevant for understanding climate change. Pachauri has been awarded the

prestigious Padma Bhushan by the Indian government. He is a strict vegetarian, partly due to his beliefs as a Hindu, and partly because of the impact of meat-production on the environment. On December 10, 2007, Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC; "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change, Pachauri represented the IPCC at the awards ceremony. Global warming is already changing the environment, the economy, and peoples ways of living. The changes arent over either, and the more that changes around the world, the more you have to understand what global warming is. Its really quite exciting. Although global warming is connected to scary scenarios featuring soaring temperatures and worsening hurricanes and monsoons, its also a link to a better future. Global warming is opening doors for the development of new types of fuels, leading the shift to reliable energy sources, and creating a vision of a greater tomorrow, and the best part we are right in the middle of it all, helping to make those changes.