Question

Read the following statements (A - E) and identify how many of the following help in controlling global warming.

A. Cutting down the use of fossil fuels.
B. Improving the efficiency of energy usage.
C. Reducing afforestation.
D. Planting trees.
E. Increasing the emission of greenhouse gases.

• A. 2
• B. 5
• C. 4
• D. 3

Answer 1

The correct option is D 3

Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's climate system due to an increase in the level of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. Various human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have led to an increase in the level of greenhouse gases. During the past century, the temperature of Earth has increased by 0.6°C.

This rise in temperature is leading to deleterious changes in the environment and resulting in odd climate changes. It also leads to increased melting of polar ice caps and Himalayan snow caps.

Following are some of the strategies which could reduce global warming:

• Reduction in the level of greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc.) emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum products. So, statement A is correct and statement E is incorrect.
• Improving efficiency of energy usage by developing alternative renewable sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy etc. So, statement B is correct.
• Increasing the vegetation cover by afforestation (process of growing forest over an area where no forest existed earlier), reforestation (process of restoring a forest that once existed) and reducing deforestation (converting a forested area into a non - forested one). Plants trap $C{O}_2$ in their biomass during photosynthesis and thus reduce the amount of free $C{O}_2$ in the atmosphere. Hence statement C is incorrect and statement D is correct.
• Development of substitutes for greenhouse gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).