Climate Change 101 part 2

The most abundant GHG is CO2. Without human activity, the planet's vegetation gives off CO2 as a by-product of photosynthesis. The use of petroleum and coal have led to an accumulation of GHG above pre-industrial levels (300ppm vs. 382ppm). If the concentration goes beyond 475ppm, the earth's average temperature will go above 2 degrees C leading to widespread collapse of agriculture, ecosystems and the onset of epidemics. Methane (CH4) another GHG, is 21 times more potent than CO2. This is a by-product of Anerobic processes such as decomposition in landfills and rice agriculture. It is therefore important to be vigilant with the quantity and quality of our energy consumption, to reduce our waste and to be more efficient in our consumption and production of rice.