POLLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING

by Laura (Oct 15, 2003)

car pollution            industrial pollution

POLLUTION

Pollution causes many problems : towns are very polluted, babies and elderly people have trouble withstanding it. It can bring about asthma attacks. And, above all, it destroys the environment and the atmosphere because of the emission of CO2 and other gases, which come from cars and great factories.

The Unites States of America is the most polluted country, as we can see on this chart:

emissions of CO2 in million tonnes
USA Europe China Russia Japan
5,585 3,106 3,051 1,486 1,158

We must really stop polluting the air because pollution increases the greenhouse effect and our planet won’t survive.

GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming is obvious, we can’t deny it. It’s due to the greenhouse effect, caused  itself by pollution, as we have seen  above. A rise in global warming would modify climates, causing damage to agricultural production.

And just like last summer, temperatures would dramatically increase, causing the glaciers and one part of islandis to thaw.

So we’ll inevitably witness a rise of sea level and a disappearance of plains and coastal urban areas.

Millions of persons are concerned.

 


If you wish to react to this article, write to the editor.


I agree that pollution is a major problem, especially in the United States. Not enough money from the government is being put into environmental programs and it seems like people just don't care. However, to get a little philosophical, we, as humans, are tiny creatures in comparison to the history of the earth. We may think the universe revolves around us and we feel important, but in the big picture, we are ants. Eventually we will destroy the environment , but then it will destroy us. We are all a result of nature and because it is above us, it can live beyond our years as a human race. The environment is a much stronger force than humans and has the power to wipe us out. But in the mean time, the right thing to do is to stay in our place and respect the force that made us and keeps us alive.

Audrey (San Rafael, California, USA)


In my view, it's time to sound the alarm because of pollution. This article is interesting but in my opinion pollution is due to our self-comfort too. In other words, the emission of CO2 is not the only cause of this disaster. Maybe you must complete your article with other effects such as the extinction of animals (in Africa, for example, rhinos and elephants are on the verge of extinction) and natural disasters.

Gaelle (Nantes, France)


I believe pollution is the major problem of the twenty first century. In 1996, in Kyoto, the industrial countries took steps to limit the emission of gas and reduce waste. To keep the planet healthy , the inhabitants must be made aware of the problem, especially the future generation. If each one does something, everybody and the Earth will win.

Mathieu (Nantes, France)


The chart must include the emissions of CO2 depending on the area because Japan, for example, is more polluted than the USA.

Thomas (Nantes, France)


To my mind, pollution problems are very serious. Many countries don't realize the real situation, especially the USA which are indifferent. But all countries in Europe have signed a chart to limit the emission of CO2. However we can see a flaw in the chart because it doesn't show the area of the countries. It should be changed with a percentage. To conclude, humans should react to preserve the earth and its biodiversity.

Marc (Nantes, France)


The pollution issue is more important than before and the warning bell is ringing now. Industrialized countries should think about other energy sources. Indeed, polluting products are made with petroleum and chemicals. That is the main cause of the important presence of CO2. Offical statistics foresee petroleum world's reserves for thirty years.  Only thirty little years. Is it judicious? I don't think so....
So thinking about cleaner energy sources will be wise, and this way major pollution problems will be solved.

Hafid  (Nantes, France)


To me, pollution is going to destroy the Earth, so we must react ! The greenhouse effect has tragic consequences on the environment. So to reduce this, we should promote renewable energies like solar power or wind power... if we want to leave a better planet for our children.

Mathieu (Nantes, France)


I agree with you. It is really an important problem, because  few people are interested. To me, we can reduce the emissions of CO2. First, we can make non polluting cars (with gas, water or electric motors). And we can use trams and trains. Secondly, we could write more laws about pollution in the industrial firms to stop pollution. To conclude, I would like everybody to do things to respect the environment. I want to work in renewable energies (like solar or wind). I think the more we talk about pollution, the more people can react. We can still change the world!

Nicolas  (Nantes, France)



In my opinion global warming is an interesting topic. It's important to learn about the origins of pollution to find a solution. We can see in your article that China creates more pollution than Russia or Japan but the population of this country is very important... For the future of the earth it's necessary to control the emissions of CO2 better. Jonathan (Nantes, France)


 

In my point of view, the pollution problem is dangerous for the future of our children. The emission of CO2 from the industrial countries attacks the ozone layer. The politicians of these countries must  do something..... for a better future. 

Franck (Nantes, France)


I guess you're rigt. The pollution problem is an international problem. Everyone must be concerned because the future generations will live in the same world as us. All the dangers that you describe in your article are real. But if we do something now we can change the situation and it will be better.

Edouard (Nantes, France)


I think pollution is a very big problem in towns and in the countryside. I think we can stop this evolution because it's important for the population. Many people are ill and die everyday because of pollution. In towns most of the pollution is produced by car and factory fumes. Nobody reacts! They don't see the importance of this problem. In the countryside, the farmers don't react. They spill toxic products in the rivers. Then the rivers pollute the towns and the water, and the population have trouble if they drink polluted water. To reduce pollution the population have to open their eyes on this problem. If the pollution continues and the population don't react in some years the earth will be very polluted and it will be too late to react.

Romain (Landivisiau, Brittany, France)


I agree with you and I think that everybody knows about the problem of pollution, but people do nothing. The biggest international powers, like Europe and the USA, pollute a lot with an important emission of CO2 and other gases. Even though the European countries pollute, they try to improve this situation with new energies ... For example, the new nuclear power, with ITER, can become the energy of the future because it pollutes less than nuclear power stations and it produces a lot . But the USA don't want to accept the resolutions of Europe or Japan : they don't understand that the future of our planet is in our hands. Factories, cars, nuclear power stations, farmers ..... are the principal causes of pollution. It causes many problems : towns are very polluted, babies and weak people have some health problems, our beautiful landscapes are destroyed, our rivers are affected by pollution too. And I think that the big problem that not many people know about is that with our pollution we pollute Africa too : they have problems to work their land because there is not enough rain, and the consequences are very important : they starve .... But when will this hell stop ?

Florian (Landivisiau, Brittany, France)


[/quote]We must really stop polluting the air because pollution increases the greenhouse effect and our planet won’t survive.[/quote]
I must agree with the beginning of that statement in regards that we must stop. However, research has found out that the planet will survive. We might not, but the planet will. According to research, after the greenhouse effect would have taken it's toll, the planet will try to stabalize itself. In doing so, the planet will undergo yet another Ice Age, thus, the planet will live.
One also keep in mind, the effects being felt to-day, is because of the industrial revolution of the past. Back then, we (as in the planet) did not have the number of safe-guards as we do now. Because of that, we will see a dramatic difference of the increase, from fast to a numbing slow.
I also like this last quote: [/quote] Millions of persons are concerned.[/quote]
Well of course millions of people are concerned! There are 6.5 Billion people in the world. I would have to agree that a wimpy million would be at least slightly concerned!
And I leave one with this last note; can one be too much of an alarmist ?

Raven (Florida, United States)


Dec 11, 2005

I think we should do something about this before it gets too late. Iimagine how much we pollute each day. I think that humans will become exotic  in 30 years from the information I have been looking up. And according to my calculation this is bad.  We are destroying the world even faster than anybody can imagine ... So please email back, we need to talk about this.

Frank (Lawndale)