Environment: How can we save it???

India
July 2, 2007 8:41pm CST
I m a Biotech student and have been perplexed at the news about the devastating effects of "Global Warming" on our planet. Being a firm believer in scince and its principles, I m dead sure that science will b able to solve this problem. My field of interest is environmental Biotechnology. The discussion I want to start is that how can biotechnology help us in meeting the deadline?? I mean that we have been given around 8 yrs to get our acts right......pls comment, whatever u think. Do not hesitate if ur knowledge in science is limited (No offence meant..plzz). PLz contribute....waiting for that "EUREKA!!!!!" moment......
1 response
@shilpaum (1752)
• India
16 Aug 07
Global Warming - Global Warming control
Sure, science esp. biotechnology can play important role to control, to slow down Global Warming. “Biotechnology can change the nature of the problem . . . if it can change the economics of a major part of the global energy system, for example, commercial biomass; carbon capture; and hydrogen, fuel cells, and transportation technologies.” (Jae Edmonds) Global warming has become a major problem. It is caused when more solar energy is trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere than can escape into space. Carbon dioxide and methane are the two compounds causing the problem. A high quantity of those compounds is coming from power plants and transportation. The rise of temperatures threatens many dangerous consequences, such as drought, disease, floods, lost ecosystems, sweltering heat, and rising seas. Temperatures have increased by about one degree Fahrenheit over the last century and should rise another three to nine degrees by the end of this century. Heat waves, droughts, and wildfires will occur more often and with much more intensity. Disease carrying mosquitoes will expand their range and species will become extinct. The temperature changes are becoming drastic. Genetically engineering plants play a role in slowing down global warming. In Canada, enhanced fruit trees kill insects on contact, without the use of pesticide sprays. In Israel, poplar trees have been made to grow so fast that they could eliminate a need to log old growth forests, while gobbling enough carbon dioxide to help slow global warming. In North Carolina and Minnesota, trees under experimentation which contain novel woody fibers can be processed into pulp without the tons of toxic chemicals that now poison rivers around paper mills. These kinds of inventions are paving the way to make biotechnology a plausible choice to help slow down global warming.
• India
16 Aug 07
Hey, that's a pretty informative reply you have posted here. Ya, I agree with u on all counts. This blatant consumerism has plundered our environment like hell. Well, I have started a blog related to green technologies and something about environment. Please check out the following link: http://eco-guerrier.blogspot.com Leave ur comments on how u find the blog. If u enjoy it, please spread the word. Thanx for dropping by :)