Green Six Sigma

Chapter 1Climate Change Challenges

‘What humans do over the next 50 years will determine the fate of all life on the planet.’

– David Attenborough

1.1. Introduction

‘Climate change’ as a scientific term may well sound quite tame and vernacular, and possibly does not convey a sufficient sense of urgency. It becomes confusing when scientists additionally talk about ice ages and other natural changes to the climate that have occurred throughout the history of our planet. The term ‘global warming’ has also been used as another phrase for the same thing, but, by contrast, this expression clearly imparts an unambiguous message concerning the imminent danger posed to humans and other living objects on earth.

What is beyond dispute is that the earth's temperature is rising, and even growth of two degrees centigrade would melt the ice sheets of the Polar Regions, resulting in a sea level increase of many metres. I have to admit that in the context of discussions regarding our future well-being I do prefer the term ‘global warming’. However, as ‘climate change’ is the official term being used by the United Nations (e.g. UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change and IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change), I shall also use this phrase primarily to express the impact of global warming.

The world is producing 51 Gigatons or 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases every year. These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N ...