Evidence Mounts for Climate Change
Date: 09/03/23
The days when climate change and global warming were a matter of debate and doubt are now surely gone forever. The undeniable evidence is mounting from around the world that our planet is heating up. It’s clear that we have to do something about it, and we have to do it now, with the help of environmentally friendly companies like Think Hire.
India to England feeling the heat
Right now, we may be shivering in the last throes of winter here in the UK, but figures released this week show that India experienced its hottest February since proper weather records began. This follows record breaking January temperatures in no less than eight countries across Europe, and a series of deadly snowstorms and tornados in the United States.
Not only do these extreme weather events put lives and livelihoods at risk, in many cases, they also serve to make the problems worse.
Extreme heat means more emissions
In India, the unusually early arrival of the hot summer weather has pushed energy demand through the roof. Use of irrigation systems and air conditioning pushed demand up to 211 gigawatts in January, almost reaching the record set last summer. The problem is that in India, 70% of electricity is generated using coal.
Higher temperatures mean more demand for electricity, which means more coal is burned, which releases more greenhouse gasses, which push temperatures higher still, and so on. It’s creating a vicious circle that is a significant threat to the global push for net zero emissions.
UK temperatures on the rise too
Last month it was confirmed that 2022 was the warmest year on record here in the UK, and the Met Office are already anticipating 2023 to be warmer still. Their scientists are in no doubt as to the cause, with senior climate scientist, Dr Mark McCarthy saying that the results were due to the “genuine impacts we expect as a result of human-induced climate change”.
Unfortunately, those impacts are not just restricted to warmer weather. Today, the BBC reported that researchers expect flood damage to rise by 20% over the next century. Floods already cost the country £700m a year and as the researchers point out, “every pound we spend on flood risk mitigation is a pound that could be spent on teachers, nurses, hospitals, schools”.
How can you help?
As the evidence mounts up, we can no longer bury our heads in the sand and deny that climate change is happening, or that human activity is the major cause. But what can you do, as a company, to make a difference to this global catastrophe?
Fighting climate change is a massive challenge, but every little genuinely helps. For example, using a solar backup generator on site, instead of burning diesel fuel, will cut emissions of problematic greenhouse gasses. You might not think that one solar backup generator makes much difference, but if every site made the change, it would soon add up.
Think Hire are the experts in environmentally friendly energy, and their team can work with you to create a renewable energy plan that can power your project without feeding climate change. Better still, if you make Think Hire your renewable energy partner, we will guarantee to not only cut your emissions, but also cut your operating costs too.
To find out more about a solar backup generator, and the rest of the Think Hire range, including solar site lighting and hybrid power hire, call the team today on 0330 133 2222, or complete the contact form online.
Without action, these worrying climate change headlines will continue to spiral out of control, as the world gets warmer year after year. It is time for us all to play our part in stopping that from happening, before it’s too late.