The earth's climate has changed throughout history. With the end of the last ice age, began the modern climate era. Then the 18th century came the industrial age, which has contributed to climate change. The country of origin was England, where innovations, such as the steam engine (Dampfmaschine) enabled the mechanical production of goods and therefore a new form of economic growth. At the end of the 19th century was an oil rush in America. Soon they used oil – the black gold – for their illumination, heating, the manufacture of cement and concrete, candles, cosmetics and much more. Consequently, it changed their life completely - in a very positive way. Because then, most of the things became easier to handle.
But unfortunately, it affected our present life – in an extremely bad way. Since then 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) were set free to our atmosphere. And as we know, the emission of CO2 contributes to the global temperature rise, warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets, glacial retreat, decreased snow cover, sea-level rise and ocean acidification. It’s not that it has always been like this by nature, as many people think. Nowadays it’s a serious problem that we created by ourselves. We need to accept the challenge to save our planet earth!
“But how can we save our blue plant?” If you want to know that, you can check out my following contributions.
Picture: Oil rush in Pennsylvania
Links
Today’s usage of oil (alaska.conocophillips.com)
Effects of climate change (www.myclimate.org)
Global warming, differences between today and the past (earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
Video, destroyers of the earth (www.arte.tv)
Author M17a
Noémie Käser