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THE INCREDIBLE COMPLEXITIES AND PERFECTIONS OF A TREE
the tree of life
T
rees are so integrated into daily
life that it is easy to forget the whole
0
02 MAKES OXYGEN
variety of benefits that they provide. Trees
02
provide useful products. This is the most obvious
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and direct benefit that trees can provide. Even in towns, trees provide traditional products such as timber and fruit as well as new products, including wood chip mulch and renewable fuel. A mature oak tree can provide support
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for over 460 different species of insects, birds and mammals in shelters and hollows, as well as fruit, flowers and foliage that attract a huge variety of birds and insects. trees can provide a seasonal barrier to harmful ultraviolet radiation creating areas of dappled shade where people can escape from the famous heat of the British summer. On sloping sites, tree roots act to prevent erosion and stabilise the soil. Over time, decaying wood and leaves will enrich the soil. With the increasing cases of asthma,
02 MAKES FOOD
the benefits trees provide in cleaning the air should not be underestimated. The canopies of trees act as a physical filter, absorbing harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen
02
dioxide and sulphur dioxide and effective at trapping fine dusts and toxic particles, the trapped dust being washed to the ground by
SEQUESTURES CARBON
co
rain. There are many small and some large businesses within Medway that depend on trees both directly and indirectly.
N2O
CREATES MICROCLIMATES co2
02
02 ABSORBS SOLAR ENERGY
02
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PROVIDES ANIMAL HABITATS
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what could happen to our trees When you come to think about it, a future without trees or vegetation would not only be scary, but deadly for all mankind. Many animals, including human beings, would not
FIXES NITROGEN
o2
survive without any vegetation on Earth. Plants
SELF REPLICATES
are necessary for multiple reasons—they provide us with oxygen and they are at the
N2O
foundation of all food chains. Furthermore, they play a fundamental role in ecology—they cleanse the atmosphere of excessively large quantities of carbon dioxide emissions. So,
co2
when we think of sustainable development and environmental protection, these are not the fads of the moment. They are essential to
TREE VOLUME 57,000 GALLONS OF WATER IN A 10-12 INCH FLOOD
our survival. We can all start working to protect our planet by pledging to take action in favor of our planet on Earth Day and every day.
the carbon tax
A
more expensive, thereby making it possible
on energy products and motor vehicles, rather
for other products produced through cleaner
than on CO2 emissions directly. Opposition
processes to compete on price. Yes, that’s
to increased environmental regulation such
right. The pricing’s of certain goods that are reliant on
“The objective is to lower income taxes and introduce a carbon tax”
as carbon taxes often centres on concerns that firms might relocate
carbon pollution for their production will go up.
and/or people might lose their jobs. It has
t the centre of the government’s
However, the majority of Australians will be
been argued, however, that carbon taxes
policy on climate change is pricing
compensated for this cost, and this cost will be
are more efficient than direct regulation and
carbon. Many commentators and politicians
relatively small for most items.
may even lead to higher employment. Many
have referred to this as a “carbon tax”. The
How will this drive a move towards a cleaner
large users of carbon resources in electricity
idea is that polluters will pay per tonne of
future you might wonder. Well, it’s not hard to
generation, such as the United States, Russia
carbon they release into the atmosphere. This
see that if pollution-intensive processes make
and China, are resisting carbon taxation.
cost will initially be set at $23, and increase
goods more expensive, companies will look
gradually until 2015, when we will shift to
to reduce their pollution footprint in order to
Senator Dodd anchored his presidential
a trading scheme that will let the market set
lower their costs. That’s what businesses do
candidacy for the U.s. senate to a Corporate
the cost. This is widely thought of as the most
improve efficiency year on year. It’s one of
Carbon Tax. As he explained in the CNN/
effective and least costly mechanism to reduce
the key drivers of growth. For this reason, it is
YouTube Democratic Presidential Candidate
carbon output and reduce the level of climate
actually not necessary for the consuming public
Debate: “Until you deal with the issue of price,
change that is occurring.
to change their practices,although
until you impose a corporate carbon tax, we
Right now, when you purchase a product
that would help drive you own costs
will never get away from fossil fuels. It’s the
that relies on carbon-intensive materials or
down. A number of countries have
only way this can be achieved. You have to
manufacturing processes, the price you
implemented carbon taxes or
advocate that if you’re serious about global
pay does not represent the cost incurred by the environment. The iron ore used
energy taxes that
warming.”
are related
The best way to think of the carbon tax is that
to create the product could
to carbon
you are being rewarded for being energy
be sourced from the highest
content.
efficient for something which serves an almost
polluting mine in the world, the
identical purpose to the fossil fuel based
electricity used to power the
product. The reward serving purposes of
manufacturing plant could
wind , solar and other kinetic and eco-friendly will help to reduce the carbon footprint with households producing a large amount of the co2 will if anything improve the air around you. Most
be provided by the dirtiest
environmentally
coal mine in the world, and the
related
trucks used to transport the product to
taxes with
its final destination in a supermarket could run on the dirtiest fuels in the world, and it would make no difference to the
implications for greenhouse gas emissions
price. With a price on carbon, this equation
in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-
would change. The amount of carbon pollution
operation and Development)countries (which
involved in producing a product would start
are an international economic organisation
to be factored into its final price. Products
of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate
produced through dirty processes will become
economic progress and world trade). are levied
Arthur Cecil Pigou proposed taxing the goods (in this case hydrocarbon fuels), which were the source of the negative externality (carbon dioxide)
THE CARBON TAX
Federal government imposes carbon tax on top 1000 polluters
Gives assistance to the top 50 polluters giving them a 1/3 discount of the tax intake
Low to middle income house holders get tax/welfare relif from the government
Government rewards the public if they cut fossil fuel levels and use energy efficient technology
WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AT OUR DISPOSAL WE COULD LITERALLY REDUCE THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT BY 90% -kenny ausubel
O
wing to the overall rise in the
world temperature, the glaciers in
appliances should be switched off instead
reducing the
to hold it in stand by mode. This will save
carbon footprint
the Antarctic region begin to melt which has
more power since stand-by mode consumes
increased the overall sea level. If this situation
40% of the energy. People should use only an informative guide on how the carbon footprint
continues, many low lying areas will submerge in
energy efficient appliances. Thermostats should
reduction process will kick in
the near future. Global warming also increases
be used for air conditioners since they reduce
the occurrences of hurricanes. There are many easy solutions to reduce
the temperature automatically. Consumption of organic food should be
global warming and its impact. First of all, people should understand
increased because organic soil absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide.
the problem and take measures accordingly to save the world. People
Buying local food reduces the consumption of fuel. Cows emits large
should reduce the usage of electrical appliances which emits
amount of methane due to their vegetarian diet. Hence meat consumption should be reduced. Also tetra packs
green house gases. For example; the refrigerator
should be used instead of tinned food.
releases carbon and the incandescent
Periodic maintenance of the vehicles
light lamp emits 300 pounds of
helps in efficient usage of fuel
carbon dioxide a year. This
and reduces release of
can be replaced through
green house gases.
a compact fluorescent light bulb which saves
Proper inflation of
much
tyres should be
energy.
done and fuel
Follow RRR-
wastage should
Reduce, Reuse,
be avoided.
Recycle.
Teach your local
People should
neighborhood
not dump waste
and relatives
products in the
about the cause
ground.
Plant
and impacts of
products, food waste,
global warming and
vegetable dump undergo
methods to reduce it. Conservation of forests
anaerobic decomposition
also forms a factor to reduce
i.e. they break down to produce
global warming. Hence, individuals
methane, a green house gas instead of oxygen. Hence the product usage and wastage
and government should be concerned about the environment and stop the incoming danger due to global
should be reduced or recycled for a healthy atmosphere. Trees absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide. Many trees should be
warming. It can stop by having the whole entire country go green, have
planted since they involve in photosynthesis, food preparation with the
car plants switch to electric cars, try and “limit” the green house gases,
help of sunlight. During this process, trees absorb carbon dioxide and
and by living off of solar wind/power. Man produces roughly 0.28%
exhale oxygen. Also, existing forests should be saved and usage of plant
of all green house gases. Completely shutting down all of mankind and
by-products shouldn’t be wasted. Usage of green power prevents 300
allowing millions to die would have almost zero affect on the overall
kg of carbon dioxide to be emitted into the atmosphere. The electricity
ghg levels for thousands of years. But in comparison to what we created
obtained from the renewable resources like wind and water is called
according to the the carbon cycle, man releases about 29 billion tonnes
green power. The cost is also low in case of green power. Insulation of the ceiling of a house and power saving is the important factor to reduce global warming. The electric
“People often ask me what can I do? well you’ve made the first choice you know you have to do something” -Kenny Ausubel
of CO2 a year, mostly from burning fossil fuels and cement production. This works out at 79,452,000 tonnes every day (nearly 80 million tonnes or 88 million US tons).
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