HBWF



FAQ - Environment

ANNOUNCEMENTS

May 2007

-	Resource Consent is finalised

QUESTIONS:

· What is the greenhouse gases problem? · What is the greenhouse effect? · What is the climate change? · Why do we need renewable energy?

ANSWERS:

What is the greenhouse gases problem?
	The problem we now face is that human actions - particularly the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing - are increasing the concentrations of these gases, creating the prospect of global climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from direct human activities have perturbed the global carbon cycle. Thus the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is now about 20% higher than 200 years ago. Burning of oil, coal and natural gas, and the clearing and burning of vegetation, are the main causes of the rise. This gas makes the biggest contribution to the enhanced greenhouse effect (about 70%).
What is the greenhouse effect?
	The warming effect of the Earth's atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect. Radiation from the Sun enters the atmosphere but is prevented from escaping back into space by greenhouse gases. These gases trap heat because they readily absorb infrared radiation. As the energy cannot escape, it warms up the Earth, causing an increase in the Earth's temperature (the global warming). greenhouse effect - schematic figure
What is global climate change (global warming)?
	Our climate has warmed by about 0.7°C over the last 300 years, with about 0.5°C of warming occurring over the last 100 years. It is accepted that much of this change is due to an increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases, which are created through burning fossil fuels. Scientific models predict that the average global temperature will rise by a further 3°C by the next century unless change takes place now. With a rising in global temperatures, the ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic waters have already begun melting, which is leading to sea level rises. The resultant effect on human life and the natural environment could be devastating, with rising sea levels likely to submerge whole islands in the Pacific, flood low lying areas in many countries and inevitably push entire species to extinction. The extraction and use of fossil fuels are responsible for many of the world's environmental problems. Much air and water pollution, soil erosion and climate change is energy related. To address these issues, a shift to methods of producing heat and electricity that do not compromise the environment and the needs of future generations is a global priority.
Why do we need renewable energy?
	Electrical energy is essential to billions of people around the world. We are reliant on it for the simplest of things from light to read by to water for a shower. The conventional sources of power come from burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, oil or from nuclear fuels. As there are fears of fossil fuel shortages, as well as evidence that fossil fuels are creating climate change and concerns about nuclear power,generation of an alternative clean energy source is clearly of growing importance.

Copyright © 2007 Wind Farm Developments Ltd