About Carbon Emissions

Over the course of the last 20 years, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased at a rate of 1.5 parts per million each year. The ever-growing population and continued economic growth that are taking place worldwide continue to add to the problem of carbon emissions. As gas prices rise, the use of coal is reemerging. As well, countries like China are seeing an increase in coal-based industry and other carbon-intensive practices. Globally, we need to achieve a 90 percent reduction in our carbon emissions by the year 2050 to have a chance at preventing the dangerous effects that these gases are having on our environment.

Types

There are six recognized types of greenhouses gases which can all be generically referred to as carbon emissions. These gases are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Hydrofluorocarbone, Perfluorocarbons and Sulfur Hexafluoride. Three-fourths of carbon emissions are caused by the release of these dangerous gases into the atmosphere. The remaining one fourth of emissions is caused by deforestation which reduces our planet's natural capabilities for absorbing these gases. Activities which produce carbon emissions can be broken down into four main categories. Electricity generation produces 42 percent of emissions. Twenty-four percent is caused by transportation. Twenty percent of emissions are caused by industrial activities and 14 percent are the result of commercial and residential use.

Time Frame

Between 1950 and 2000, carbon emissions more than quadrupled from 1.6 billion tons to 6.5 billion tons. Though efforts are being made to cut carbon emissions, the growth of industries which cause them are surpassing these efforts. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy reported a 17 percent decrease in carbon intensity between 1990 and 2000. But an increase in overall economic activity during that time resulted in a 14 percent increase in total carbon emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy predicts significant rises in the use of coal, oil and natural gas over the next 20 years. Yet preventing the worst effects of global warming will require a decrease in carbon emissions of 60 to 80 percent by the middle of the century. These greenhouse gases have long lasting effects that make it absolutely necessary to look forward. At our current rate of emissions, it will take a whole century for the earth to stop warming, even if emissions were to cease completely now.

Geography

Though carbon emissions are a worldwide problem, the source of these emissions remains largely centralized in some locations. An estimated 50 percent of the planet's carbon emissions are caused by just ten percent of the global population. America alone is responsible for 24 percent of total carbon emissions. Japan and India are each responsible for only 5 percent of these emissions, despite their large populations and economies. Countries with extensive deforestation, such as Brazil and Indonesia, cause close to six billion tons of carbon emissions each year.

Effects

As awareness of our effect on carbon emissions increases, so does the demand for a universal way to define the carbon emissions which result from any one activity. Every company, product, and individual can define their impact on greenhouse gases by determining their "carbon footprint." A carbon footprint determines the total persistent greenhouse gas associated with any individual, group, or activity. Nearly every action a person takes creates an impact on carbon emissions. Worldwide, more than eighteen billion barrels of oil are burned to produce bottled water. American produce logs close to fifteen hundred miles on its way to the table. Simple actions from watching television to buying a gallon of milk have an effect on total carbon emissions. In turn, carbon emissions are wrecking havoc on our global climate. The greenhouses gases trapped in the earth's atmosphere are causing a slow but steady increase in temperatures. This in turn sets forth a chain of effects including melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and increased storms. While the exact scope of these effects is widely debated, recent research shows that Arctic ice is melting even faster than predicted.

Prevention/Solution

On an individual scale, people can reduce carbon emissions by making an effort to become aware of, and reduce their carbon footprint. This can entail anything from buying locally grown produce to upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. Alternative sources of power for electricity will reduce consumption of fossil fuels. Transportation emissions can be reduced by participating in mass transit, carpooling, or purchasing more fuel-efficient cars. Globally, some governments are participating in the effort to reduce carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol was instituted with a goal of reducing the carbon emissions of industrial nations by at least 5 percent. Though 74 countries had ratified the protocol as of 2002, the United States and Australia have continued to hold out which makes this protocol exceedingly unlikely to succeed. In the United States, the Chicago Climate Exchange has tackled the issue of carbon emissions by instituting a system which allows companies to buy and sell carbon credits. Through a cap and trade system, participating companies are able to earn allowances by keeping their emissions below the cap, while companies that exceed it are fined. The theory behind this system is that the promise of a profit can entice these industries to reduce their carbon emissions. Other actions that may make an impact on carbon emissions are carbon taxes and funding for research into clean energy technology. Another often-overlooked source of emissions is deforestation. Increasing the worth of rainforests and undeveloped land while preventing the further destruction of this valuable resource can go a long way toward decreasing carbon emissions.

Significance

A growing awareness of carbon emissions is causing a number of companies to join the movement to go green. Tesco, a grocery producer in the UK, Asia, Europe, and the United States has pledged to cut their energy use in half by 2010. A growing number of airlines are offering carbon offsets that essentially allow passengers to pay for activities which will attempt to compensate for the carbon emissions caused by their flight. Gary Hershberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farms wrote Stirring it Up, a guide to helping companies become carbon neutral by reducing their carbon emissions as much as possible and offsetting those they cannot avoid. Some manufacturers are even working towards listing the carbon footprint of each product on the packaging. A global effort to reduce carbon emissions means changes in nearly every aspect of our current culture, especially in America. Yet despite the intimidating scope of the task, a growing number of companies are jumping onboard.