Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Mankind faces a serious threat. Its activities, for example the burning of fossil fuels, have led to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect - something that has given rise to a global warming. The climate is becoming warmer, a change that has important effects on the nature as well as for humans and their society. Sea level rising, extreme temperatures are becoming more common, glaciers and other ice caps melt and storms becomes more intense when they appear.

The main cause is the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere - carbon dioxide in particular. The world is now aware of the problem and work to mitigate the changes and their effects has begun. The main objective is to significantly reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide. To achieve this climate policy, decisions have been made, an international market for carbon dioxide trading has been instituted, national instruments have been developed, technology development is in progress and mechanisms to promote reducing efforts have been established. The emission rate has slowed in some parts of the world and in some countries they have even been reduced. In many developing countries, primarily China and India, the emissions increase as the industrialization takes place. The emissions from these countries must be reduced as well, if the objectives are to be achieved and the warming to be limited. The warming is a worldwide matter that may affect everyone. Emission reductions must be done in the near future. Otherwise, the problem is likely to be unmanageable and have significant impacts on the living species and the human society. Floods, droughts, heat waves, severe storm damage and reduced food production are only some of the warming impacts. Some adjustments have been made to deal with the impacts, but they need to be done to a greater extent than today. It is difficult to predict the future, even with the help of extensive calculations and construction of models and scenarios. The way we act in the nearest future will determine what the future will be like.