Wastewater Treatment
3.7
4.0
4.5
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.9
N2O from Product Uses
4.4
4.6
4.9
4.4
4.4
4.4
4.4
Forest Land Remaining Forest Land
2.7
3.7
12.1
8.4
18.0
16.7
10.1
Composting
0.4
0.8
1.4
1.7
1.8
1.8
1.8
Settlements Remaining Settlements
1.0
1.2
1.1
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.6
Field Burning of Agricultural Residues
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
Incineration of Waste
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
Wetlands Remaining Wetlands
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
International Bunker Fuels
1.1
0.9
0.9
1.0
1.2
1.2
1.2
Total for U.S.
322.3
342.5
345.5
328.3
329.5
327.7
318.2
All of them are in terragram.
http://www.epa.gov/nitrousoxide/sources.html
Food
Brewery industry is responsible for a lot of production of CO2. During the process of fermentation a lot of CO2 is produced. Every 100g of final solution produces about 62.2 g of CO2 per litre. In 2004, it was estimated that Americans drank about 23.974 billion litres of beer, which produced about 1,491,182 metric tons (mt) of CO2 and globally, people drank about 150.392 billion litres of beer, which released about 9,354,382 mt of Co2.
Livestock agriculture also produces a lot of CO2. According to a UN's report in 2006 livestock was responsible for about 7516 million metric tons of CO2, 18% of the total GHG produced. In beef production, producing 1kg of beef releases an equivalent warming potential of about 36.4kg of CO2. It’s also estimated that more than 80 million tons of methane a year is produced due to digestion. (Methane has a warming potential of about 20 times than that of CO2). In 2010, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) estimated that the per capita consumption of beef was about 57.4lbs approximately 26 kgs which is equivalent to 946.4 kg of CO2.
Transportation
This sector produces a lot of CO2. But still, people drive alone; use vehicles for short distances etc. contributing more. But, it seems Japanese people care about the environment. In 2001 the emission was 267 million tonnes which gradually reduced to 236 million tonnes. People used efficient vehicles, traffic flow improved, etc.
National
How Climate change may affect the lifestyle of people in India?
If climate change occurs people’s lifestyle will dramatically change. It is predicted that there will be varying geographical pattern all over the place and many evidences have already occurred. It is going to affect all- from a small farm to a big industry. Farmers will face a great loss in their yields and production. Change in the rainfall pattern will have a massive impact in Agriculture. India is the highest producer of white rice and the second highest producer of wheat. Any change in the rainfall pattern will massively drop down the production.
As India is a developing country it has got many industries which are very essential for the country’s economic growth. The CO2 production is very high in this sector so the government might put a ban on the industries which is polluting too much meaning, they might have to cut down their production.
India homes more than 1 billion people. Climate change might not affect the rich ones but is surely going to affect the middle class family and the poor ones. If the production of any food goes less, the price will increase which means that the poor ones can buy very little to eat. Plus the no. of poor people is so high that the government will have to subsidize on the food price.
About 70% of the total electricity is produced in India from coal; it’s about 60% of the total GHG production. The government might have to cut down the burning of coal which means less electricity production. At this stage too, people have power cut in their homes which means more power cut will take place so people will have to adjust with it unless they find an alternate. Hydro and all other combined may not reach the demand. Nuclear is an option but again after the incident in the Fukushima nuclear plant one might have to think again. Industries also might face a great challenge regarding energy which might cut their production.
If the government has to take care for all what might happen then development might not take place which is very critical for a developing country. They will have to subsidize the prices, feed the victims of disasters which might take place, import goods from foreign country, etc. So it might severely affect the economic growth of the country.
The government is well aware of the consequences mentioned above. I believe ‘Prevention is better than cure’ in the same way the Indian government is taking action to reduce the effects. Some of it are mentioned below.
1. Current electricity production from nuclear is 4780W. The government is planning to increase the power output to 63000W by 2032. By 2050 it will produce about 25% of the total production.
2. India announced “clean energy tax” on coal and “tax breaks” for the import of equipment for renewable energy production. These both raise fund for investing in non-renewable energy.
3. According to UN, India is adding about 300000 hectares of tree every year. This will help as trees take in CO2.
But the government alone cannot reduce the effects of climate change. People’s lifestyle has a great effect towards climate. So the people also have to act against it. If people don't change their lifestyle now they might have to make a drastic change in their lifestyle later. So making a simple change in lifestyle could mean a great benefit later.
Personal
In my home non-veg is very common. Beef is considered holy so it is restricted. But chicken is highly practiced. One kg. of chicken is consumed every 3 days by a family of 4. About 10 kgs. of meat is consumed every month which is about 120 kgs. per year. Production of 1 kg of chicken produces about 5.96 kgs. of CO2. So the total amount of CO2 emitted by my family 715.2 kgs.
In my home there are some basic electrical appliances such as refrigerator, microwave, TV, vacuum cleaner, A/C, lights, iron etc. which directly or indirectly contribute to climate change.
Items
No.
Power
Time used everyday (Mins)
Used Everyday
Energy consumed per year (Joules)
Refrigerator
1
700W
1440
Yes
21772800000
Toaster
1
1000W
15
Yes
324000000
Water pump
1
1000W
40
Yes
864000000
Microwave
1
1000W
15
Yes
324000000
Vacuum Cleaner
1
1400W
30
Yes
907200000
Iron
1
1000W
30
Yes
648000000
Lights
7
70W
360
Yes
3810240000
TV
1
Yes
4428000
Total
28654668000
According to Samsung the power consumed by a Smart T.V per year is about 123 whr.
I have one car. It’s been working since 5 years. It has travelled about 50000 kms. It's fuel consumption is 8.3 lit./100kms. Making the calculation per annum it has consumed about 8300 litres of fuel. One litre emits about 2.28kgs of CO2, which means my car has emitted about 830 kgs. of CO2 per annum which makes it about 4150 kgs. of CO2 in 5 years.
In a way, my family has contributed to deforestation. We have furniture in our home like sofas, dining table, etc. Even the floor is made up of wood.
Paper wastage is a common practise in my home. Since I have a little brother, he has little knowledge about this. He scribbles something on a paper, crushes it and throws it.
Opinion
Luxury plays an important role in the life of a human being. People are becoming lazy day by day. It appears that globalization and urbanization have taken a great part in developing human beings comfort. Do you think the early men needed furniture in their caves? Do you think they had to buy a new car every year? The answer is 'no'. People have evolved for many years. They have learnt to use tools. But the ability to think too much has made them think evil. The mentality has changed. It has become similar to a herd mentality. 'Since we have got resources, we will waste it.' And also selfishness and showing-off have made people think more about them but not about a good cause.
Educating people should be given the first priority. Educating helps people become aware of what is going on around the world. From my part, I could write articles or just go and talk to people but it is the world that has to face the problem. We as a part of a society could arrange for campaigns, speeches of experts and organize many more programmes in order to spread the word. It is only then people start to realize and have a broader view of the situation. This basically means, they will start to think straight which is very essential in this stage if we really want to do something.
________________
________________
Future Prediction
It is projected that climate change will have a huge impact globally. The temperature is expected to rise in a high rate which will change the precipitation patterns. The snow in the mountains is going to melt which means the sea level is very likely to increase. This might lead to disasters in countries like Maldives, Chile, the coastal states of India, etc. But, interestingly Nepal being a landlocked country is going to suffer a lot. Flood will sweep away the banks of river. About 80% of the people are involved in agriculture so this sector is going to suffer a huge impact. Not only Nepal but the whole of Asia is going to suffer from lack of fresh drinking water.
These are only impacts in Asia. The effects are different for different regions. For e.g. In Africa the yield from rain-fed crops could reduce by 50% by 2020. People all over the world are going to have conflict for resources. Migration would take place all over the world because people will certainly try to live in suitable place. Even health will be a major target for climate change. Due to variable change in the temperature unexpected diseases may spread.
The below table demonstrates the effects.
Phenomena
Likelihood of trend
Contraction of snow cover areas, increased thaw in permafrost regions, decrease in sea ice extent
Virtually certain
Increased frequency of hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation
Very likely to occur
Increase in tropical cyclone intensity
Likely to occur
Precipitation increases in high latitudes
Very likely to occur
Precipitation decreases in subtropical land regions
Very likely to occur
Decreased water resources in many semi-arid areas, including western U.S. and Mediterranean basin
High confidence
Definitions of likelihood ranges used to express the assessed probability of occurrence: virtually certain >99%, very likely >90%, likely >66%.
Climate change will even change my lifestyle. Scarcity of food (especially rice which is common in Nepal and requires a lot of water) and fresh water might have a great effect because we cannot live eating burgers and pizzas all along. Floods and uncertain precipitation could mean that my family has to migrate somewhere else!
These are just educational guesses based on the evidences we have. These are very uncertain because no one can predict the future. If it was like this than it is predicted that the world is going to end in December 21st 2012 and we wouldn’t have to worry about climate change.
What can me and my family do?
1. Control my non-vegetarian diet plan.
2. Not to waste energy and paper even if they are renewable.
3. Buy energy rated products.
4. Use vehicles as seldom as possible.
5. Plant a tree as I have never done it.
6. Correct if someone is making a mistake
What can India and its people do?
1. Farmers must control the use of fertilizers.
2. The country can invest in non-polluting power sources.
3. Encourage people to energy efficient vehicles.
4. Organize campaigns all over the country to spread the word.
What can the world together do?
1. Companies all over the world can try to make energy efficient machines.
2. Any given country must not only invest in their own country but invest in other countries which are considered poor.
3. Countries can invest in researches like fuels with less emission and many more which could be economically possible.
4. Make sure that everybody is making their personal contribution.
Bibliography
http://www.oneshift.com/new_cars/car_fuel_consumption.php?pid=111
http://ecofx.org/wiki/index.php?title=Beef
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jun/05clim.htm
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http://www.indiaclimateportal.org/how-climate-change-affects-india
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