Carbon and its Consequences

The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race, at least regarding the lasting effects of carbon emissions. Sure, industrialization it gave us fancy clothes, cool cars, and YikYak, but it behooves us to acknowledge the impact carbon emissions and fossil fuels have on our planet. The main harm carbon emissions, or CO2, pose is the greenhouse effect. 

This is essentially when the CO2 in the atmosphere traps heat from the sun from leaving, making the planet hotter. Our atmosphere is does have to conserve some heat from the Sun, or else Earth would always have sub-zero temperatures, similar to Mars, which has a very thin atmosphere. But the Earth is not designed to heat up as much as it is, as quickly as it is. So, in an age of discovery and innovation, how can we continue to progress, while cutting carbon emissions as much as we can? 

One solution has been solar power, which sounds cool, but not many people know its benefits/drawbacks. Obviously, the sun is very powerful and generates a lot of energy; the amount of sunlight that covers the Earth’s surface for an hour and a half is sufficient to power the world’s energy consumption for a whole year. So why don’t we just put a bunch of solar panels in the desert, where no one lives? Well, unfortunately with the way we currently harness energy from the Sun, a large solar power plant would pale in comparison to a plant of different energy, say nuclear or otherwise, with regard to both energy production and cost efficiency.

So, it is more likely to use solar energy for personal use, on top of your home. This can either power portions of your home, or, depending on your energy usage, power your entire home! The installation of solar panels is costly, but it most definitely pays for itself over the years, as you save money and energy the longer you have them up.

It seems we’ve solved the climate problem then, yes? Simply put up solar panels! Well, no. Electricity production makes up only 25% of greenhouse gas emissions (2019), where the transportation sector is responsible for 29%. On average, the daily miles driven by a given car in the US is roughly 25.9 (2017). Provided that the car is taken out more than once, we can assume a trip is less than 13 miles (13 miles there and back is roughly the average of 26). Given the average biker clocks 15mph on an hour-long ride, biking to your locations, especially urban, is very possible, and more sustainable than driving, both for power and cost. If biking is not feasible, you can always save up for a hybrid or electric car, too, to lessen your carbon footprint. Of course, sustainability is all about practice, not perfection, so trying to implement these and other practices into your routine, even a little, will make you feel more fulfilled and ready to combat climate change. Simply turning off the water and the lights when you’re not using them can make a difference, and are a catalyst for bigger changes in your life. And once you’ve done all you can to live sustainably, the only thing left to do is encourage corporations to do the same.

 

References:

Kazmeyer, Milton. “Is CO2 Bad for the Planet?” Sciencing, 2 Mar. 2019, https://sciencing.com/co2-bad-planet-4876.html.