Facilitating Environmental Consciousness through Social Groups

As popular public opinion and most climate scientists believe, definite climate changes are afoot. According to The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the globally averaged land temperatures were +0.78°C (+1.40°F) and ocean temperatures +0.45°C (+0.81°F) above average. Another finding from NCDC shows that during the last century, temperatures have increased at the rate of 0.06°C/decade. There are several indicators like melting glaciers and ocean warming that demand focused worldwide attention.

There are a wide range of reasons for the change in climate. Industries worldwide use a large number of machines and equipment that consume carbon-based fuels. The combined effects of the greenhouse gasses; carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are the largest force behind these climatic changes. There are many ways in which these issues can be tackled. The five part plan suggested by Vice President Al Gore is a relief to know that these issues can be combated in some way or the other. Constructing concentrated thermal plants in deserts, installation of unified smart grids for energy transfer, encouraging automotive industries to run on renewable energy, retrofitting buildings with better insulation and finally and most importantly, working towards stopping carbon emissions world-wide through political policy.

As a political representative, Al Gore’s points have helped focus on the main themes on which the government should operate on. But, for an average American to be conscious of his/her surroundings and act accordingly is a big challenge. The first step towards this is to provide adequate awareness on the climatic changes and its consequences. Pitching in with their full support to these social and environmental issues are online discussion boards.

Social networking sites offer a medium for free expression of views and opinions. In this way, ardent internet users across the globe can be made aware of the ill-effects and the probable health hazards that will affect them. Some social groups have more than 10,000+ topics for discussion. Users who are environmentally conscious can act responsibly by generating opinion polls on these issues and gather support for a worldwide change. These groups act as a facilitator in spreading news on all issues surrounding global warming and the environment.

Mankind has been, in one way or the other, a contributor to the degradation of global climate conditions. It is possible for social groups on the internet to be a positive force for change. By keeping the dialog going in our online social circles, we can continue to beat the drum of environmental conscientiousness.