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Solutions

Climate change will lead to serious problems which all countries must get together to solve. Over the years, several conferences to discuss environmental issues have been held, and many agreements signed. The process began with the Stockholm Conference of 1972, but negotiations on the issue of climate change started in 1990. These negotiations resulted in the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in 1992.

Since human activities have a large impact on the climate, a large part of the solution lies in our hands. We can bring down the use of fossil fuels, cut down on consumerism, halt deforestation and use more environment- friendly agricultural methods.

In the energy sector, emissions can be lowered if the demand for energy is reduced and if we shift to cleaner sources of energy which do not release any carbon dioxide. These include solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear energy.

A number of countries have cut down on the use of coal and have moved to cleaner sources of energy. Japan is a world leader in energy efficiency and the development of alternative energy sources.

Vehicles running on cleaner technologies and fuel are being tested and strict emission laws are being adopted in the transport sector. Some countries have begun taxing industries, that is, the polluting industry has to pay society for the damage it has caused and is causing.
Governments all over the world should see that forest cover is maintained because plants use carbon dioxide to grow and help remove it from the atmosphere. Forests are therefore, called 'sinks' of carbon dioxide. If trees are felled, reforestation should be immediately carried out. Wetlands are another ecosystem that play a very important role in maintaining ecological balance and thereby the stability of the climate. Preserving these areas has to be given top priority.

Biotechnology can be used to reduce the water requirement of crops, increase crop yield, and reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Special strains of rice are being developed in laboratories that can grow with less water and lead to lower emissions of methane.