For this paper, I have researched and studied the topic of Carbon Dioxide reduction. In this paper, my effort is to look at why Carbon Dioxide is harming the climate, where is it coming from and measures that are being taken to reduce it. It was around the 19th century when climatologists discovered that our atmosphere had certain gasses that produce a “greenhouse effect” and affect earth’ temperature. The greenhouse effect, simply explained, is when gasses trap the heat in our atmosphere. This is the phenomenon that keeps the earth a warm place. Without this effect, our planet would be a very cold place, especially for animals and plants. This cycle starts with sunlight coming into our planet. The greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide let the energy through into the atmosphere. Most of this energy is absorbed by the land and the water. Then earth’s surface warms up and reflects back energy into outer space in the form of infrared radiations. However, the greenhouse gasses work to trap some of this energy into our atmosphere, making the earth warmer.
Carbon dioxide is known to be the main greenhouse gas that is produced by our actions. There is a natural level of carbon dioxide already present in the atmosphere. This is thanks to the carbon cycle, shown in the image below:
Figure A: Carbon Cycle
However, human activities are producing a large amount of carbon dioxide that is interfering with the carbon cycle and leading to its alteration. Our actions are altering the CO2 level in two ways. Firstly, by adding carbon dioxide to the environment and secondly by lowering the ability of trees and forests to remove all this CO2 from the atmosphere. There are several natural reasons for carbon dioxide emissions. However, since the industrial revolution, man-made emissions have increased and contributed to earth’s raised temperature.
Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions:
There are several human activities which lead to CO2 emissions. The activity that emits the most carbon dioxide is fossil fuels combustion. Fossil fuels for example coal, natural gas and oil are combusted for transportation and energy. Industrial processes also emit carbon dioxide. Some of the main sources of CO2 are:
• Electricity: We need electricity to power up our houses, offices, and all industries. Electricity production uses the burning of fossil fuels. The levels of CO2 that are emitted depend on the kind of fuel used for combustion. For example, for the same amount of energy, coal produces a larger amount of carbon dioxide than oil or gas.
• Transportation: The second largest source of CO2 emissions is fuels that are combusted for transportation of goods and people. Gasoline and diesel are used for this purpose. Transportation methods like air travel, rail, highway vehicles and marine transport all add to carbon dioxide emissions.
• Industry: Industrial processes lead to emission of CO2 through the burning of fossil fuels. Non-combustion processes like cement production, steel and iron production and chemicals productions also emit carbon dioxide.
Figure 2: US Carbon Dioxide Emissions 1190-2012
Hence, Carbon dioxide emissions are leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect and are raising the temperature of the planet. Elevated temperatures have a lot of unwelcome and harmful effects like longer and scorching summers, change in rain and snow levels, rising sea levels, the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, etc.
There are several ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Some of these are discussed below.
The most effective method of reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions is by cutting out fossil fuel combustion and consumption. Another way for carbon dioxide reduction is to use carbon free or reduced carbon energy resources. Carbon free energy sources are geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy, low head hydropower, nuclear power and wave and tidal power. Reduced carbon fuels like natural gas will also lead to lesser carbon dioxide emissions. The levels of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced if processes of power generation, oil refinement, etc. are more efficient. This process can reduce the emission by 10-30 percent.
Another way for CO2 emission reduction is by carbon sequestration. It is a possibility to remove Carbon dioxide from the environment and store it in plants and the soil that supports plant growth. Carbon dioxide can also be captured and stored within the earth when fossil fuels are burnt. Storing CO2 within the earth is known as sequestration.
Carbon Dioxide capture and sequestration reduces CO2 in the atmosphere. EPA has greenhouse reporting program which has facilities to capture carbon dioxide and to inject it underground. EPA also supplies the captured CO2 to the economy. There are several uses of this CO2 like food manufacturing, beverage manufacturing, oil recovery, paper and pulp manufacturing and metal fabrication.
There are various efforts to reduce carbon dioxide around the world today since global warming is a growing concern. One such program is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This is a program of electric utilities in ten Atlantic and Northeastern states. It is a cap and trade system and is state mandated. The aim of this initiative is to reduce carbon dioxide emission by 10% percent by the year 2018. It establishes a cap for CO2 emission in different regions. The participants of this program are allowed limits on carbon dioxide emissions. If they are successful in avoiding a greenhouse gas emission, they are awarded carbon offset credits. This program is currently limited to ten states, but efforts are to make it a nationwide system.
In one of the most recent efforts to reduce global warming and climate change, US and China came together and formed a commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions in both their countries. The agreement was signed in November, 2014 on President Barrack Obama’s visit to Beijing. The US plans to reduce emissions up to twenty-eight percent below its 2005 numbers by the year 2025. These numbers are double the pace of what US had pledged to reach by 2020.
However, this is the very first time China has made a commitment a year for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. XI has committed to reducing the levels by the year 2030. China also committed to increasing non-fossil fuels energy to twenty percent by 2030. This is a very big step owing to the fact that China and the US emit forty-five percent of the global emissions.
Apart from these measures being taken by nations and governments, there are several ways individuals can reduce their carbon footprint. The fact is that this is a problem of the entire planet, and everyone should contribute to the solutions.
A lot of people own and drive cars and this creates a lot of carbon dioxide. Some ways of reducing our carbon footprint while driving is by not crossing speed limits, having our cars checked for emissions, having inflated tires and using a car pool or public transport. Apart from our cars, we can also make some efforts inside our houses. A basic and very simple way is to switch off the lights and shut down electronic devices when they are not being used. Proper insulation in our houses reduces air leaks. California has an Energy Upgrade program where it provided its residents with incentives and offers for insulation of homes. Using solar panels and solar heaters further reduce ill-effects to the planet and in the long run save people a lot of electricity bills. Even eating less meat can contribute to a reduced carbon footprint. This is because lot energy is used raise animals, process the meat, store it and not let it get spoilt before we consume it. This is why it is more energy efficient to purchase our food locally and have our farms. Buying pre-packaged and over-processed food harms much more than our body. Owing to the extra energy employed for the processing and preservation, it has is disadvantage for the planet as well.
Caron offsetting is a process where people and nations can measure their carbon footprint and then offsetting the amount that cannot be avoided. This process has advantages like people owning their carbon footprints and then making their contribution to the climate change solution. However, this must be looked as an extra step and not as an alternative to reduce carbon emissions.
Works Cited:
"Carbon Dioxide Emissions." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html>.
"Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ccs/>.
"CO2 Capture and Storage: A Key Carbon Abatement Option." Publication:-. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/co2-capture-and-storage--a-key-carbon-abatement-option.html>.
"Climate Realities in Light of the U.S.-China Agreement." Washington Post. The Washington Post. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/robert-j-samuelson-climate-realities-in-light-of-us-china-agreement/2014/11/23/e5fdc7fa-719d-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html>.
"Top 10 Ways to Reduce Your CO2 Emissions Footprint." Brave New Climate. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. <http://bravenewclimate.com/2008/08/29/top-10-ways-to-reduce-your-co2-emissions-footprint/>.
