Climate change is one of the defining global and ecological challenges of our time. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding and infectious disease spreading, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale.
Climate change is mostly caused by greenhouse gases and the most important one of them is carbon dioxide (CO2). It is naturally produced and crucial for the survival of all life on Earth. This gas is used by plants during the process of photosynthesis, and plants play a key role in the food chain involving other living beings, including humans. However, carbon dioxide, just like other greenhouse gases, keeps some of the Sun’s warmth from reflecting back into space, which causes global warming. Humans have, after more than a century and a half of industrialization, deforestation and large-scale agriculture, released large quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen to record levels not seen in three million years. As populations, economies, and standards of living grow, so does the cumulative level of greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere.
What can each of us do to reduce the effects of global warming? We have to keep in mind that as much as 20% of all greenhouse gases in the atmosphere comes from traffic (car use). In its Energy Strategy, the Republic of Croatia has set as one of its goals the achievement of a ten percent share of renewable energy sources in all modes of transport in relation to consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel. Aware of our global responsibility and the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels, we all can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions simply by cycling. Cycling reduces traffic congestion and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Act now: drive less – cycle more!
Prof.Ivančica Ternjej, PhD
Faculty of Science
