Climate Change - Solutions
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Solutions
Clean energy: stop relying on inefficient energy systems and incorporate renewable energy (wind, tidal, wave and solar energy) and waste to energy techniques.
Low Impact Building: building in more sustainable ways taking into consideration the toxicity of materials used as well as the energy needs of the construction.
Transport: minimising use of cars and airplanes, if necessary using low carbon cars. More incentive should also be given to car and aviation manufacturers to use less polluting technologies.
Industry: setting legislation and giving incentives to change polluting habits (energy needs and handling of waste) and switch to cleaner energy. Change will come through simple things like lighting an average office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1,000 cups of tea.
Households: switching to energy efficient suppliers, recycling, reusing waste and using energy efficient appliances.
Climate Change and Coral Reefs
As ocean waters warm, corals lose their colour – a phenomenon known as "bleaching" – and eventually die. One recent survey in Madagascar revealed reefs that had lost 99% of their coral cover due to bleaching. Already, 27% of the world’s reefs have been effectively lost, with the largest single cause being the massive climate-related coral bleaching event of 1998 (Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network). Some have predicted that 60 percent of the world's coral reefs could disappear by 2030 if nothing is done soon (Convention on Biological Diversity press release 2006).
The loss of corals has a devastating effect on broader marine systems, and the human communities that rely upon them for survival. Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine species. They provide natural barriers along coastlines, protecting beaches from erosion and communities from storm surges. Products derived from coral reefs have been used to treat HIV and other diseases, and globally 500 million people rely of coral reefs for their food and livelihoods. Climate change is also becoming a leading factor in the degradation of mangroves and coastal wetlands.ged by human impact.