The carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is causing global warming through the greenhouse effect. Nature had been maintaining the balance through ocean release, decomposition, and respiration for as long as we know. However, recent human activity is the source where carbon dioxide originates which is upsetting the equilibrium.
Sources for Carbon Dioxide
The human contribution comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, natural oil and gas, destroying forests, and factory farming. These activities accelerated during the first industrial revolution in the 19th Century and the impact has worsened every day since.
Respected scientists believe our situation is the worst ever over the past three million years. While the human contribution is far smaller than that produced by nature, it tips the balance. Since the capacity of the natural sinks that deal with carbon dioxide have not increased. To quote the bathtub analogy, we have opened the tap but the drain is the same size.
Things Humans Do that Cause the Most Carbon Dioxide
A startling 87% of global human emissions are from burning oil, coal, and gas. Hence it follows we should start by tackling the sources where carbon dioxide comes from overwhelmingly. The balance comes from clearing forests for other uses (9%) and some manufacturing processes (4%)
We know that 43% of global combustion emissions come from burning coal. The balance is oil (36%) and from natural gas (20%). America currently obtains 31% of its electricity from burning natural gas, and 30.1% from coal. Individual citizens can respond to this by using less grid electricity, and converting to renewables if they can.
The nation’s fleet of vehicles is still overwhelmingly petroleum powered. Now we know where carbon dioxide originates, we can respond to this by cutting down on short trips. And driving in a more environmentally-friendly manner by accelerating gently up to the speed limit. This is something we should do on behalf of all humanity.
Related
How Deforestation Started Climate Change
Effects of Climate Change: Transpiration
Preview Image: Without Words Global Warming
