 You are the last, best hope of Earth.

We ask to protect it or we and all the living

things we cherish, are history.
The debilitating effects of climate change are already being seen and felt: hotter
summers or increased heat, drought, insect outbreaks and food shortages
As rational beings living in this world, there needs to have a lot of persistence, time and effort
from us. This goes to the last and best hope of the earth, since we have the capacity to think
and reflect on things.
And it’s either we protect it and save ourselves, or neglect it and we will all vanish like
history.
As they say, With increased ignorance comes increased danger – only through a united world
effort can climate change be managed effectively.

 Global warming
is the increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere because an increased
amount of the energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun is being trapped in the atmosphere
and not radiated out into space.

 The greenhouse effect

is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's
atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by
greenhouse gases.

 How does the greenhouse effect work?

When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space
and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases, and thus, warming the earth.

 Climate Change
Climate change is a change in the pattern of weather, and related changes in oceans, land
surfaces and ice sheets, occurring over time scales of decades or longer.

 How is climate change affecting humans?

Human health is vulnerable to climate change. The changing environment is expected to
cause more heat stress, an increase in waterborne diseases, poor air quality, and diseases
transmitted by insects and rodents. Extreme weather events can compound many of these
health threats.
  How to stop global warming?
Speak up!
Power your home with renewable energy.
Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize.
Invest in energy-efficient appliances.
Reduce water waste.
Buy better bulbs.
Pull the plug(s).
Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle.

 Renewable and Nonrenewable

Resources are characterized as renewable or nonrenewable; a renewable resource can
replenish itself at the rate it is used, while a nonrenewable resource has a limited supply.

 Closed Cycle
Closed cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion systems use a working fluid with a low
boiling point, Ammonia for example, and use it to power a turbine to generate electricity.
Warm seawater is taken in from the surface of the oceans and cold water from the deep at 5o.
The warm seawater vaporizes the fluid in the heat exchanger which then turns the turbines of
the generator. The fluid now in the vapour state is brought in contact with cold water which
turns it back into a liquid. The fluid is recycled in the system which is why it is called a
closed system.

 Open Cycle
Open cycle OTEC directly uses the warm water from the surface to make electricity. The
warm seawater is first pumped in a low-pressure chamber where due to the drop in pressure,
it undergoes a drop in boiling point as well. This causes the water to boil. This steam drives a
low-pressure turbine which is attached to an electrical generator. The advantage this system
has over a closed system is that, in the open cycle, desalinated water in the form of steam is
obtained. Since it is steam, it is free from all impurities. This water can be used for domestic,
industrial, or agricultural purposes.
  Environmental Awareness
Environmental awareness is an incredibly important part of our lives. In order to protect the
sustainability of the planet, everyone needs to commit to becoming more environmentally
aware. ... Environmental degradation is detrimental and is jeopardising the long-term health
and security of animals, plants and humans
- Introduce the 3 R’s: reduce waste, reuse resources, and recycle materials
- Organise tree planting days at school and tell them why trees are important to the
environment
- Encourage children to switch off all appliances and lights when not in use
- Ensure taps are closed properly after you have used them and use water sparingly

 Air Pollution
Is defined as the presence of substances in the atmosphere that have a harmful effect on
human health as well as the health of other living organisms.

 Water Pollution
Defined as the contamination of bodies of water usually as a result of human activities.

 Soil Pollution
Soil pollution causes a chain reaction. It alters soils' biodiversity, reduces soil organic matter
and soils' capacity to act as a filter. It also contaminates the water stored in the soil and
groundwater, and causes an imbalance of soil nutrients.

 Land Pollution
Land pollution, the deposition of solid or liquid waste materials on land or underground in a
manner that can contaminate the soil and groundwater, threaten public health, and cause
unsightly conditions and nuisances.

 Agricultural Pollution
Agricultural pollution refers to biotic and abiotic byproducts of farming practices that result
in contamination or degradation of the environment and surrounding ecosystems, and/or
cause injury to humans and their economic interests.
- Pesticides and Fertilizers. To begin with, the earliest source of pollution has been
pesticides and fertilizers.
- Contaminated Water.
- Soil Erosion and Sedimentation.
 - Livestock.
- Pests and Weeds.
- Heavy Metals.
- Soil Erosion and Sedimentation.
- Organic Contaminants.

 Mining
Environmental issues of mining can include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of
biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from
mining processes. In some cases, additional forest logging is done in the vicinity of mines to
create space for the storage of the created debris and soil

 Ozone Depletion
When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in the stratosphere, they
destroy ozone molecules. One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules
before it is removed from the stratosphere. Ozone can be destroyed more quickly than it is
naturally created.

 Deforestation
Deforestation and the destruction of forest habitat is the leading cause of extinction on the
planet. On top of that, the capacity of forests to pull greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is
lost as forests are cut. Forest loss contributes about 15-20% of all annual greenhouse gas
emissions.

 Acid Rain
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the
atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more
acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
The pollution that causes acid rain can also create tiny particles. When these particles get into
people's lungs, they can cause health problems, or can make existing health problems
worse. ... This ground-level ozone causes respiratory problems, like pneumonia and
bronchitis, and can even cause permanent lung damage.

 Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl refers to the expansion of poorly planned, low-density, auto-dependent
development, which spreads out over large amounts of land, putting long distances between
homes, stores, and work and creating a high segregation between residential and commercial
uses with harmful impacts on the people living in these areas and the ecosystems and wildlife
that have been displaced. Although some would argue that urban sprawl has its benefits, such
as creating local economic growth, urban sprawl has many negative consequences for
residents and the environment, such as higher water and air pollution, increased traffic
fatalities and jams, loss of agricultural capacity, increased car dependency, higher taxes,
increased runoff into rivers and lakes, harmful effects on human health, including higher rates
of obesity, high blood pressure, hypertension and chronic diseases, increased flooding,
decrease in social capital and loss of natural habitats, wildlife and open space. In its path,
urban sprawl consumes immeasurable acres of forests, farmland, woodlands and wetlands
and in its wake, leaves vacant storefronts, boarded up houses, closed businesses, abandoned
and usually contaminated industrial sites, and traffic congestion, which can stretch miles from
urban centers and is creating a hidden debt of unfunded infrastructure and services, urban
decay, social dysfunction, and environmental degradation

 Overpopulation
Human overpopulation is among the most pressing environmental issues, silently aggravating
the forces behind global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss, the sixth mass
extinction, intensive farming practices and the consumption of finite natural resources, such
as fresh water, arable land and fossil fuels, at speeds faster than their rate of regeneration.
- Empower women. with access to reproductive health services.
- Promote family planning.
- Make education entertaining.
- One-child legislation.

 Genetic Modification
Genetic modification is a technique to change the characteristics of a plant, animal or micro-
organism by transferring a piece of DNA from one organism to a different organism.
Though genetically modified organisms (GMO) seemed to have good benefit as it reduces the
emission of greenhouse gases and pesticide usage which have very negative effect on
environment, by reducing these harmful entities it paves the way for overall sustainable
development.
However, there has been an increasing public interest for information concerning the safety
of these products. Concerns generally focus on how the GMO may affect the environment or
how it may affect the consumer. One specific concern is the possibility for GMOs to
negatively affect human health. This could result from differences in nutritional content,
allergic response, or undesired side effects such as toxicity, organ damage, or gene transfer.