Global Warming - Transportation

Global warming and climate change refer to the increase of average global temperatures. The causes of global warming are divided into two main causes which are natural causes and human activities that contribute to the increase of average global temperature. Human contribute to the increase of global warming by releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gases are the gases that trap heat in the Earths’ atmosphere and there are six main gases (Carbon Dioxide & Greenhouse Gas, 2009) (See Table One). In this paper I am going to discuss the problems and solutions of transportation as an example of global warming causes.

Table One

One of the important human activities that rise global warming around the Earth is transportation. Transportation of individuals, groups, and goods contribute to global warming through the emissions from planes, ships, cars, buses and other transportation vehicles (Global Issue, 2009). Burning fossil fuels, methane and sulphur emitted from different transportation vehicles contribute to global warming. Over 35% carbon dioxide emitted into the air is caused by Transportation (Cool Cities Video, 2009). Road traffic is the largest contribution source to global warming because of the large amounts of gases emitted into the air like CO2, soot and ozone (Global Issue, 2009). Burning one gallon of gas (which weighs about six pounds) produce almost around 20 pounds of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide & Greenhouse Gas, 2009). In USA, transportation sector is the highest sector that consumes fossil fuels and emits CO2 followed by industrial and residential (Carbon Dioxide & Greenhouse Gas, 2009).

With the increase of traffic problems many technological solutions discovered. There are different solutions that can help reducing pollutant emissions from road traffic. From 1993, cars were provided with catalytic converters which reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Another solution was developed which is using alternative fuels to petrol and diesel (Transport Solutions, 2009). For instance, using compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, city diesel, hydrogen and battery operated vehicles all can help in reducing carbon dioxide (Busby, 2009). Moreover, another important solution is using other forms of transportation other than cars like bicycle, buses, metro and public transportations (Transport Solutions, 2009). Finally, public awareness of the global warming issue and the solutions is very important, however, it depends on the media which plays an important role in many such issues (Transport Solutions, 2009).

In conclusion, I believe that transportation is one of the main habits that people cannot live without it. There are many problems that related to transportation and increase global warming like emitting gases such as CO2. It is very important to encourage people to try other means of transportation that could reduce the emitted gases and global warming. Finally, keeping the Earth clean and save it is very difficult with all the technologies around us, however if we want to live healthy we have to work together to protect the EARTH.

Resources:

Busby, Joe, and Pam Page Carpenter. “Teaching students about clean fuels and transportation technologies.” The Technology Teacher. 68. 7. (April 2009). Student Resource Center –Gold. Gale. Higher Colleges of Technology. 20 May 2009 <http://0-find.galegroup.com.library.hct.ac.ae/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=SRC-1&docId=A198412393&source=gale&srcprod=SRCG&userGroupName=971hctnet&version=1.0>

Carbon Dioxide & Greenhouse Gas, 17 May 2009, <http://www.blogger.com/%3Chttp://www.lowimpactliving.com/pages/your-impacts/global-warming1%3E>

Global Issue, 17 May 2009,<http://www.globalissues.org/article/233/climate-change-and-global-warming-introduction>

Transport Solutions, 18 May 2009, <

http://www.enviropedia.org.uk/Sustainability/Transport_Solutions.php>

Al Jazira Club

Al Jazira Club is my favorite football team in the UAE. When I was eight years I played for this team but I did not continue. I really enjoyed the days in Al Jazira club as a player. Today, I am enjoying watching the team as one of its fans. Al Jazira was established in 1974 after the merger of Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen and Khalidiya clubs. The team did not win the UAE League until today but it competed to win the league for six years now. This year is the first year as a Professional League in the UAE; AL Jazira competed with Al Ahli team until the last match. But, Al Ahli won the UAE League and they deserve it “Congratulation”.
Al Jazira won the UAE Federation cup 2007 and Gulf Club Champions Cup 2007. Al Jazira Club administration are planning to open new branches of the club in the Al Shawamikh, AL Bahya and Al Wathba areas in order to discover new national talents. One of the Al Jazira club great achievements is AL Jazira Academy which established on 1st July 2004. The academy is concerned with the education and sport level of the young players. I wish one day Al Jazira could win the UAE League and participate in the World Clubs Cup…

Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

The Ruler should not have any barrier which separates him from his people.” Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a trend mark of the UAE. He is the person who changed the history of the UAE to how it looks now. Despite all the challenges that faced Hiss Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, he did not give in and he changed the UAE from an old desert into a green land.

When Sheikh Zayed became the ruler of the UAE, he realized the many changes that he has to do. From the foundation of the UAE many changes have been done in all sectors like education, medication, infrastructure, transport, business, industry and more. UAE is a developing country that reached a level of development in 38 years, where many countries needed hundreds of years to reach the same level.

A very important attitude of H.H. Sheikh Zayed is helping poor countries around the World and charity. UAE helped many countries around the world by providing them with food, money, medicines and army. This attitude became the character of the UAE national citizen. We can notice this from all the contribution they did when a country need help. They contribute through media, universities and Red Crescents. There are many charity organizations in the UAE like Red Crescent, The Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Human Appeal International (HAI) and more.

UAE and the World had lost a ruler who really cares about his country, citizens, and the world. H. H. Sheikh Zayed white hands reach all the worlds starting from his country, Arabic World, Islamic World and all regions around the World. His way of ruling and treating other countries shaped his sons who are the hope of the UAE citizens now. As UAE citizens we will never forget him and all what he did to the UAE, and everything around us will remind us that we would not reach all of this without the patients and the insistence of H. H. Sheikh Zayed.

Cool Cities

There are many environmental problems that associated to the start of industrial revolution. Modern cities and economic development lead to problems like rising population, traffic delay, increasing energy consumptions and increasing footprints (Cool Cities Video, 2009). Human are using resources of more than two planets, therefore we have to find solutions to reduce CO2 emissions (Cool Cities Video, 2009). Over 90% carbon dioxide emitted into the air is caused by Transportation and Buildings (Cool Cities Video, 2009) (See Chart One).

Chart One

One of the important solutions for global warming around the Earth is establishing COOL CITIES. Cool cities defined as cities that made a promise to stop global warming by using the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement (Cool Cities, 2009). The cool cities are unique because they implement smart energy solutions in order to have clean and safe cities (Cool Cities, 2009). Supporters of cool cities argue that cool cities are the right solution for global warming and energy consumptions. They believe that cool cities could provide people with better and healthier life. These cities have many useful ideas like hybrid cars, energy efficient buildings, solar power, recycling, and renewable energy …etc (Cool Cities Video, 2009). We must admit that using smart ways of implementing energy will help in different ways in decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide admitted to the air. Cool city has many different zones, Business and public zone, Residential Zone, Cultural and sports zone and Resort zone (Cool Cities Video, 2009). One of the main supporters of cool cities methods is BioRegional Development Group. They believe that people can reduce their ecological footprint (BioRegional solutions, 2009). Moreover they established a program called “One Planet Living” that aims to reduce our ecological footprint to live within a fair share of the Earth's resources (BioRegional solutions, 2009).

However, still there are some people who are concerned about problems and drawback that do not make this idea practically useful to all people. For example, these cities are small and designed for certain amount of people. Moreover, it is expensive to live in such cities in order to rent a flat or to use transportation...etc.

UAE is consuming CO2 and polluting at different rates (BioRegional solutions, 2009) (See Chart Two). Therefore, UAE started the Masdar project the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city (Masdar, 2009). Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber stated that the total development budget for the city is US$22 billion (Masdar, 2009). It will use the solar power to get energy (Masdar, 2009).

Chart Two

Masdar

In conclusion, in my opinion, the idea of cool cities is very interesting because it is a new way that could help in reducing global warming and carbon dioxide. It is also useful to change people’s lifestyle and encourage them to appreciate the resources they have. Furthermore, cool cities contain the dream home for all of us which clean, safe, and close to our work, gardens, schools and more. Finally, this way of living will protect us and our children from different diseases that associated with CO2 gases.

Resources:

BioRegional solutions for sustainability, 5 May. 2009, < http://www.bioregional.com/about%20us/aboutus.htm>.
Cool Cities, Solving Global Warming One City at a time, 5 May. 2009, <http://www.coolcities.us/>.
Cool Cities Video, Towards Sustainable Urban Development and Architecture, 4 May 2009, <mms://194.170.37.230/Business/Cool%20City.wmv>

Masdar, 5 May 2009, < http://www.masdaruae.com/>