Answers to the 15 questions (NO.9-No.12) Posted by Aoi

Q9. Can we delay global warming?

A9. The articles said “Yes”. If we make a great effort, we might be able to even stop global warming. It should be required to pay attention to 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Especially, cutting emissions is very effective. I wondered what I could do after I read the articles. When I wash my face, I sometimes keep water running. When I leave my room, I don’t turn off the light. These are the waste of resources, so I thought that I should use resources more frugally. As for Reuse, I thought it was a good idea to use my own chopsticks as much as possible. In Japan, we often use wooden chopsticks, which are called “Waribashi”. Every time we buy some food at a convenience store, we get them. That is very wasteful. So, I’ll try to use less “Waribashi”. Finally as for Recycle, I have to pay more attention to the separating and sorting of garbage. Some garbage is difficult to distinguish, so I’ll check what the garbage belongs to, and then throw it away. Besides 3Rs, there were many ways to delay or stop global warming in the websites. The purpose of the articles was clear, so I think they are not suspicious.

Reference1: 35 Easy Ways To Stop Global Warming. (2017, April 15). Retrieved from https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/stopglobalwarming.php

Reference2: Plumer, B. (2014, November 02). How to stop global warming, in 7 steps. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2014/11/2/7146215/ipcc-climate-change-synthesis-report-phasing-out-fossil-fuels

Q10. Who can earn money by global warming?

A10. Global warming has a negative image, but some companies benefit from it. Global warming affects all over the world, so it moves huge money. For example, companies which build a seawall can earn money a lot. Sea levels have become so high that more and more countermeasures are needed. I thought that I wanted such companies to donate money they earned. Generally speaking, the companies mainly seek for only benefit, so I think many of them should care about the environment even if the company is not directly related to the environment. Another company that can earn money is related to fishing and farming. In northern area of the earth, the situation is not so bad. Greenland will be a large land where we can go fishing. Also, the land contains much resources like gas, oil, minerals and so on. So, a lot of companies will go there and start business in the near future. If the business works well, we won’t suffer from resources for the time being. That will be good for both companies and people. The articles which I cited introduced various probabilities. They had sound ideas on the relationship between companies and the environment. That’s why I chose these two articles.

Reference1: Q&A: How to Make Money From Climate Change. (2014, March 07). Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140307-climate-change-business-mckenzie-funk-windfall-science/

Reference2: Berman, J. (2017, December 07). Here's How 16 Big Companies Are Profiting Off Global Warming. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/companies-profiting-off-global-warming_n_3756346.html

Q11. Is there the difference of consciousness about global warming between developed countries and developing countries?

A11. Global warming affects all over the world, so all the countries have to pay attention to the problem. However, some countries cannot afford to carry out countermeasures against global warming. Such countries are regarded as developing countries. For example, in India, there are about 1.2 billion people. And, the people face the problem of resources every day. Even if the Indian government know that some resources are not eco-friendly, they cannot help using them to protect the lives of the people. In contrast, developed countries now try to reduce the amount of gas like CO2, methane. Moreover, various kinds of agreements have been enacted by some developed countries. But, they are not effective actually. The power of such agreements is very weak and they are usually voluntary, so more improvements will be needed if we really want to stop global warming. I think it very important for all the countries to compromise each other. If the situation does not change, we all will be at risk. These days, we persist in only profit, so we need to change our thoughts. I don’t want to see a city without greenery. A little compromise will bring a big change as a result.

Reference1: Davey, T. (2018, May 20). Developing Countries Can't Afford Climate Change. Retrieved from https://futureoflife.org/2016/08/05/developing-countries-cant-afford-climate-change/?cn-reloaded=1

Reference2: Saran, S., & Saran is a former foreign secretary of India. He was India's chief negotiator on climate change from 2007 to 2010. (2015, November 23). Paris climate talks: Developed countries must do more than reduce emissions | Shyam Saran. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/23/paris-climate-talks-developed-countries-must-do-more-than-reduce-emissions

Q12. How will the weather be in ten years?

A12. Weather is one of the most important factors for human beings. A lot of institutions now predict the weather in ten years. So, I will introduce you two predictions. The first prediction is that temperatures will get hotter and hotter. This will be caused by El Niño phenomenon, which is the large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate interaction. If it will keep on becoming hotter and hotter, some lands and animals are affected. So, ecosystem will change and we may cause new problems. The second prediction is that wet summers could last another 10 years. Rain is a good factor for crops, but sometimes it can be a negative factor. If it rains too much, crops can’t get enough sunlight and the speed of growth rate will be slow. As I introduced you, the weather is hard to predict, but the situation won’t be good. I think we need to find ways to get used to harsh weather. It may be impossible to resist against the weather, so we have to start to think of innovative ways. For example, it might be a good idea to cultivate crops inside the buildings. Many of the vegetables are cultivated outside now, so there are some risks. The air is not so clear and the weather is unstable. I hope more and more vegetables will be cultivated inside the buildings if it’s possible in terms of the costs.

Reference1: McKie, R. (2016, January 31). Here is the weather forecast for the next five years: Even hotter. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/31/weather-forecast-next-five-years-even-hotter

Reference2: Gray, L. (2013, June 18). Run of wet summers could last another 10 years. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/10128658/Run-of-wet-summers-could-last-another-10-years.html