Environment and Natural Resource Security

The biggest challenge to Earth is to achieve inclusive economic growth while combating climate change and other natural resource challenges. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases, environmental degradation and natural resource depletion are some of the most significant risks to achieving sustainable growth. The level of gas emissions have increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has risen by a third. Humans release approximately 6 Gt of carbon to the atmosphere each year. Three of these are absorbed out of the atmosphere while three remains. The world needs action now! As Obama said, "We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it."

http://kcmenviro.co.za/services/

Last year, NRK launched a program called “Oppdrag Nansen” witch is translated to Mission Artic. The program was about four 12 and 13 years old who conducted an expedition in the Arctic. They met climatologists and made shocking discoveries. Their job was to spread the message about the consequences of the climate change we are creating. They even got to participate in the climate change conference in Paris along with some of the world’s powerful politicians. Their message got through and a climate deal was enacted.

The pollution is most prominent in big cities like Beijing, Moscow and Delhi. Other affected places are India, China, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia and the United States. The climate changes are noticeable worldwide. The poles, deserts, rainforests, oceans so on. Every day we extinct hundreds of species due to the timber logging in the rainforests. Humans leave footprints everywhere in the nature.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/04/asia/china-beijing-blue-sky-disappears-after-military-parade/

So what are possible solutions?

- More engagement and support to the UN and the French government at the climate conference in Paris

- Integrate the climate risks into the financial system

- Reduce methane and gas flaring, making carbon instruments, cleaner gas and other long-term solutions

- Creating a coalition of over 40 companies exploring ways to reduce emissions and improve resource/energy efficiency

- Make children and youth aware of the climate change

- Electric cars, biofuels and using public transport

Projects working for a better climate:

Global Water Initiative’s goal is to mobilize new collaboration to invest in innovative urban water and wastewater design in developing countries, especially fast-growing cities.

Circular Economy’s goal is to eliminate waste of plastic, reuse paper and build machines that secretes important and usable materials.

Tropical Forest Alliance 2020’s goal is to achieve zero net tropical deforestation by 2020 and reduce tropical deforestation that produces palm oil, paper and pulp, soy and beef. 

You can see my presentation here!