This week has seen some of the highest temperatures on record as heat ravages parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
The extreme heat has caused wildfires to break out with Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus being ravaged by fire.
Dr Friederike Otto, Senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London told BBC Radio 4:
“The science has really moved on when it comes to attributing individual weather events. And we know that every heatwave that is happening today is hotter and longer because of human-induced climate change… It’s what we have expected to see with the current levels of greenhouse gas emissions. And we know very well that as long as we keep burning fossil fuels, these temperatures will keep increasing and temperature records will keep on getting broken.”
How can recycling impact carbon emissions?
Increasing amounts of carbon dioxide are causing global warming. By reusing or recycling materials, you reduce the number of resources extracted from forests, oil reserves, and mines. By doing this you reduce Co2 emissions and other greenhouse gases.
Steps to make a real difference.
By recycling paper, you reduce the number of trees needing to be cut down. Trees absorb greenhouse gasses and help prevent climate change.
According to the World Counts recycling 1 tonne of paper saves 1400 litres of oil, 26,500 litres of water, and 17 trees.
According to one tree planted, the average tree absorbs 10 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year for the first 20 years, meaning 17 trees would absorb 170 kilograms of carbon dioxide for the first 20 years.
This certainly highlights the importance of recycling your daily waste appropriately.
