The issue of climate change

The issues of global warming have become much more popular in news in many countries. In several developed countries like Australia this issue has been discussed in the political area in parliament. In some developing countries, more people have tried to focus on this issue such as environmental NGOs. There are some effects of climate change and several solutions regarding to this issue.    

 

In Indonesia, a developing country, there are six effects of climate change. First, based on WWF, temperature increased 0.3°C (warming 2°C to 0.3°C – per decade). Second, the rainy season has changed and has delayed; it caused a reduction of rice production. Third, sea level increased 1-3 mm/year; as a result, a million people are at risk from flooding. Fourth, the climate change precipitated declining dry-season. Negatively, it impacted in the aquaculture industry (e.g. fish and prawn industries) and infrastructure. The other effects of climate change are more frequent and severe heat waves, floods, extreme weather events, and prolonged drought. Finally, pollution from industries and vehicles aggravate people’s asthma and contribute to acid rain. All of these led to increased injury, illness, and death. Indeed, global warming inevitably affects people as well as the environment.  

 

While those effects are frightening and these maters need urgently to be solved, there are some solutions which could be done at least to reduce these problems. First, there should be a willingness from the government level to us (the lowest level) to address the issues in comprehensive way. For example, using wind power energy and using economical energy (e.g. using gas instead petroleum for cars or busses) could reduce pollution or Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions. That’s why; in Indonesia, we are using renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power, because the energy sources produce no global warming pollution. Another solution is a reforestation program which has been conducted to substitute damaged forests; only trees can neutralize CO₂. The other solution is recycling program which could recycle paper, plastic, steel, glass, and aluminium; it can lessen rubbish. So the way to solve global warming is already available in Indonesia.

 

From those situations and examples that I mentioned, I am sure that global warming can be reduced. Now, only the strong willingness, super extra power, and strong solidarity are needed to save our earth. (17th May 2008-by rafiq)

Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic. It has harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and buildings. Acid rain is mostly caused by human emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds which react in the atmosphere to produce acids. In recent years, many governments have introduced laws to reduce these emissions.

The term “acid rain” is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic components in rain, snow, fog, dew, or dry particles. The more accurate term is “acid precipitation.” Distilled water, which contains no carbon dioxide, has a neutral pH of 7. Liquids with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and those with a pH greater than 7 are bases. “Clean” or unpolluted rain is slightly acidic, its pH being about 5.6, because carbon dioxide and water in the air react together to form carbonic acid, a weak acid.

H₂O (l) + CO₂ (g) → H₂CO₃ (aq)

Carbonic acid then can ionize in water forming low concentrations of hydronium ions:

2H₂O (l) + H₂CO₃ (aq) ⇌ CO₃^2- (aq) + 2H₃O⁺(aq)

The extra acidity in rain comes from the reaction of primary air pollutants, primarily sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, with water in the air to form strong acids (like sulfuric and nitric acid). The main sources of these pollutants are vehicles and industrial and power-generating plants.