The earth’s temperature is said to have raised 1ºF since the 1900’s. That may not seem to be too big of a problem, unless you look at the earth as if it were a human body. A temperature that is one degree higher in the human body is known as a fever. Fevers are an indication of sickness; something the body must fight. Now, looking at the earth in the same way, one could say that the earth has a fever. It is fighting off the emissions of gases that are produced by our advanced technologies. The human race gave the earth a fever; it is time to help the earth fight against it.

Bamboo farming is a great opportunity to help the earth. Bamboo is easy to grow in most climates. In addition to growing easily in most climates, it can grow quickly, too, because it is a type of grass. Even though a grass, it has unique properties. It can be used to produce clothing, timber, furniture and almost any other use that the trees of the rainforests are given. Bamboo clothing is even being sold by major businesses such as Wal-Mart now! More than this, bamboo does not emit the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide when being cut down like the trees of the rainforest do. With its ability to withstand most climates, grow quickly, and its use in the economy, if established correctly, bamboo-farming could help solve three major problems: global warming, poverty and deforestation of rainforests.

That is not the only way G8 countries can decrease the carbon footprint of humans. Some scientists have recently decided upon another way of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. The New York Times says the idea is not too far-fetched. Two scientists from Los Alamos, New Mexico have developed a plan called Green FreedomTM.

Green FreedomTM changes carbon dioxide into fuel through chemical reactions. Their plan irons out the issues with the old ideas of “carbon-dioxide-to-gasoline factories”. Their plan includes the production of a new electrochemical process to create the fuel that uses less energy making this plan more promising than any other alternative fuel proposal. Not only will it lessen humanity’s mark on the planet, but it also has the potential to stabilize gas prices. The proposal is estimated to cost about 5 billion but the cost is not too unmanageable considering what it will do to improve our world, and the industry it will eventually replace.

Years’ worth of damage done to our planet will not be solved over night. Through finances provided by G8 countries and time taken to develop these ideas in reality, we could be getting closer to a solution. Bamboo farming and Green FreedomTM are promising solutions to our global crisis. Are G8 countries willing to take the risk and try these new solutions?