Issues+&+Background+Information+GWSP3

toc =__Issues:__=

=CO2=

High carbon dioxide levels are a big problem in China, It contributes about 50% to the greenhouse effect (resulting to Global Warming). One of the problems concerning carbon dioxide levels is that there is a limited amount of trees. Also, China is the world's number 1 energy consumer (being the top manufacturer), and the main source of energy is from coal, so that contributes to the CO2 problem. = = = = = = =Methane=

Although the concentration of methane is relatively smaller than that of other gases, methane is far worse and harder to deal with than carbon dioxide, in terms of Global Warming reduction. A lot of the world's methane is traped in the world's ice, so Global Warming would release more methane into the air. Methane is also released during coal-mining activities.

= = =Nitrous Oxide=

Nitrous Oxide contributes only 6% to the greenhouse effect, but it has a lot of room to increase. This is because Nitrous Oxide comes from both natural and man-made processes which are hard to stop.

= = =CFCs=

CFC gases can be found in fridges, air conditioners, aerosols and other heat-trapping equipment. There are low concentrations of CFCs in the atmosphere, but they are very powerful in trapping heat for the greenhouse effect. CFCs molecules can last in the atmosphere for 110 years, so it is very important to limit this gas. Some organizations (including ours) try to limit, and possibly even ban this gas.

=Background Info=

After the Cultural Revolution, the new leaders of China started developing a stronger Chinese economy, in order to raise the living standards of the Chinese people. China had suffered from serious economical downfalls and bankruptcies during the decade of Revolution, so the only affordable energy source was coal. China was very poor then, and so labor was very cheap at that time. This attracted foreign nations to invest in making products in China, because they would rather have other countries use energy than cause pollution in their own country, which made energy use higher in China, resulting to more coal being burned. Today, China produces many harmful gases, and 7 of the world's 10 most polluted cities are in China. This is why Global Warming is such a major issue, and one of the reasons why our NGO is trying to limit it.