Embedded Files
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
The various green house gases such as Carbon dioxide, Methane, Fluorinated gases and nitrous oxide trap and retain heat which causes the temperatures to rise unnaturally up. These gases are released into the air because of the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal, emissions from industries and farming chemicals amongst others. The global community is responsible for over 46 billion metric tons of green house gasses-- the U.S. alone is responsible for 16% of that.
Climate Change Facts: Climate Action Reserve
http://www.climateactionreserve.org/resources/climate-change-facts/
Climate Change: Basic Information | EPA
https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climatechange/climate-change-basic-information_.html
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Some of the main air pollutants are Carbon Monoxide, ground level ozone, lead, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and sulphur oxides. These are released in the because of emissions from factories, by burning fossil fuels and also by using various farming and household materials. It is important to note that many air pollutants are also green house gases (GHGs). Studies show that, now, up to 80% of people living in urban areas are exposed to air quality below the standard of living.
WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database (update 2016)
http://www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/cities/en/
Some natural and human activities that cause air pollution
http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/causes-of-air-pollution.html
For air pollution, trash is a burning problem
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/where-trash-is-a-burning-problem-17973
Meat Industry/ Farming
Meat Industry/ Farming
The industrialization of meat consumption and farms has proven to be highly detrimental. From runoff and soil erosion that contaminates the water supply and degrades the quality of the soil, to gross amounts of methane released into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas largely associated with the beef industry. It’s been proven to be astronomically more harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere than CO2— another greenhouse gas. Large livestock and farm land also pushes deforestation in order to create space for pasture and crop land, which declines the amount of CO2 absorbed. Some estimates determine that animal agriculture contributes to 9% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S. is responsible for 10.6% of the world's CH4 emissions (a component of methane).
Overview of Greenhouse Gases
https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/ch4.html
Consequences of increased global meat consumption on the global environment -- trade in virtual water, energy & nutrients
How much does animal agriculture and eating meat contribute to global warming?
http://www.skepticalscience.com/how-much-meat-contribute-to-gw.html
Agriculture is the leading source of pollution in many countries.
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/impacts/pollution/
Causes and Effects of Agricultural Pollution
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-agricultural-pollution.php
Human Behavior/ Desire for Convenience & Luxury
Human Behavior/ Desire for Convenience & Luxury
Overpopulation is a large concern in matters of climate change— but more specific matters include the amount of GHG emissions due to population density and distribution. The larger the density of the population, and the less distributed, the higher the GHG emissions. This is also affected by the humans behavior in such population. Their consumption habits have a great hand in determining their carbon footprint— for example, non biodegradable products from factories and shipped through methods that release CO2, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, etc. Paired with the desire for convenience and luxury, human behavior in terms of transportation methods, home cooling and heating, amount of water used in a household, and the manufactured products bought all come into play. To speak in simple term, the patterns and methods of consumption, and the following effects, have a greater impact than the natural act of consumption itself.
Human behavioral contribution to climate change: psychological and contextual drivers
https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-66-4-251.pdf
Consumption and Consumerism: Global inequality in consumption, while reducing, is still high.
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/consumption-and-consumerism
Deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation essentially acts as a disturbance to the natural process of Carbon Dioxide absorption. Because processes like respiration use oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, photosynthesis, the process performed by plants does the opposite. This means that forestry industries that contribute to massive deforestation are causing a huge imbalance in the Carbon cycle. Around 46-58 thousand square miles of forest are cut down yearly, and about 17% of the Amazon has disappeared. The U.S. ranks seventh in countries most rapidly losing their old growth forests-- a serious loss.
Sputtering Corporate Effort to Save Forests Highlights a Big Issue for Paris Talks
Climate & Weather: characteristics of world weather and climate
http://www.climateandweather.net/global-warming/deforestation.html
Huge swaths of Russia's forests are ablaze during what may be a record fire season
Report abuse