Guyana and global warming

This page aims to provide a simple introduction to this subject and put it into a Guyanese context.

The problem

There has been a slow rise in temperatures over the past hundred years or so (global warming) along with a slow rise in sea levels. There has also been a large increase in the concentration of certain atmospheric gases which are produced by human activities, particularly carbon dioxide and methane. It is now fairly certain that these facts are related.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

If these trends continue then there will be very serious consequences for all of mankind as the years pass. Low-lying coastal lands and cities will flood. Climate changes will cause forests to die or change. Some crops will no longer grow where they used to or yields will fall. Some wild life may have migrate or die out. Coral reefs may die in some places. The rise in carbon dioxide concentration by itself is known to affect the growth of plants. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_global_warming

Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005
(Wikipedia)

What is causing the change?

Scientists now agree that the rise in the levels of carbon dioxide and methane are a principal cause, probably the main cause of the rise in temperature. And that we can and should do what we can to stop this from continuing. These gases are known to help trap the energy from the sun within the atmosphere and are known as "green house" gases since green houses work in a similar way. A green house is a shed with a glass roof which is used in cool countries to grow crops like tomatoes which need a hot place to grow. The glass roof traps the energy from the sun and make the inside hot even in cold weather. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect

Methane is a more powerful green house gas than carbon dioxide but there is much less of it in the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of most fuels such as gasolene, oil, coal (fossil fuels) and wood. It is also produced by decaying or fermenting plant material.

Methane is produced by decaying or fermenting plant material in the absence of air such as under water e.g. swamps, rice fields, stomachs of cows. It is also found in the natural gas produced from oil fields.

What can be done?

While more research is needed enough is known to take action. The main problem is a reluctance to accept responsibility. There is real and urgent need for united global action. The longer this is delayed the worse will be the consequences and the higher the cost. There are actions which can be taken to reduce the problem, for example:

Reduce the amount of fuel being burnt - there is too much waste and greater efficiency is possible
Increase the amount of carbon dioxide captured by plants - much can be ne
Capture carbon dioxide by other means - this is more difficult but technologies are available
Reduce methane production - action can be taken but more needs to be known
Develop new technologies which may help.

Guyana

Given the small size of the population of Guyana and its level of development compared with the large land area covered by forest and savannah it is clear that Guyana must be capturing more carbon dioxide than it is producing. But this does not mean that we should not be complacent. We should be doing what we can since if the problem is not controlled all will suffer and Guyana is certainly vulnerable to sea level rise. We know that sea wall breaches and over-topping is common these days.

We can:

Reduce the amount of gasolene and oil used by greater efficiency of transportation and use of electricity (since almost all electricity is produced by oil-burning power stations).
Implement as soon as possible the use of hydropower and other alternative methods to generate electricity.
Reduce the burning of garbage using by better disposal methods.