Our climate system varies through natural cycles of carbon emission and absorption.  The planet has a natural regulation system that can cope with most natural fluctuations that result in changes in temperature or changes in atmospheric gases.  Plants and the oceans, for instance, naturally absorb the carbon released from human and animal respiration and digestion, decaying vegetation, solar activity, volcanoes and fires.  However, our excessive burning of fossil fuels has disturbed this balance.

Most of the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been shown to be a result of human activities, particularly the combustion of fossil fuels.  The gases result in global warming and the current increase is predicted to accelerate.  This increase is further exacerbated by the growth in the world’s population putting strain on the earth’s natural resources for food and energy sources. 

As developing countries make rapid advances in their industrial output, countries like China and India require massive increases in energy mainly from coal fired power stations.  Industrial growth and increasing populations from both the developing and the developed world means increasing emissions from power plants, industry, transport and deforestation.  Globalisation means more air travel; and increasing urbanisation means more roads and vehicles.  Increased standards of living also mean more energy demands. 

Initiatives such as the Kyoto protocol are steps in the right direction.  However the global situation still requires more use of fossil fuels and hence the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere continues to increase.  We must take steps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.  We need governments, businesses and individuals, with solutions provided by companies like Treepak, to all contribute to the fight to combat global warming and to alleviate the consequences of climate change.