Carbon Emissions Whitepaper
This term I had a class called Fuel and in this unit we talked about pollution and how it affects our society. We also learned about different chemical reactions. For my action project this unit I created a whitepaper. A whitepaper is like a business plan or an action plan. It explores what a problem is and also gives a solution.
Carbon dioxide, also known as CO2, Is a type of greenhouse gas that contributes to polluting the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide comes from the burning of fossil fuels. A fossil fuel, like coal, natural gas, and oil, comes from the remains of plants and animals formed in the earth over time. Fossil fuels are used widely all over the world. People use fossil fuels because they can be cheaper than other energy sources. With the use of fossil fuels being so high there is so much carbon dioxide being emitted into the air, this is not good for the environment because it contributes to global warming. In March the year 2000, the amount of carbon in the air was 370.60 parts per million. This year, March 2020, the amount of CO2 in the air is 414.11 parts per million. This number will continue to rise each year if we do not do anything significant to change how much carbon we put into the world. When calculating my personal carbon usage I got about 8.8 tonnes of carbon released per year. In other words that is the same amount as 990 gallons of gas being consumed. My annual greenhouse gas emissions are 21,836 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle. The average amount of carbon emissions in the United States of America as of 2014 is 16.49 metric tonnes. In comparison the amount of carbon emission in Afghanistan is 0.30 metric tonnes as of 2014.
There are a number of different actions one could individually do to reduce the amount of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere including riding a bike, gardening, or solar panels. Riding a bike every day can reduce the carbon emissions, it saves “about 21 g of CO2 emissions per kilometer.” Gardening is a way you can reduce your carbon emissions. By making your own food at home you can save about “68 lbs of CO2 per year.” Solar panels can also help reduce carbon from the atmosphere and according to LG, “around 10.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions” are saved per year.
There are options for people to do as a community because the more people you have involved the greater the impact you hold. One thing that you could do with other people that would help offset carbon is carpooling with some friends. Doing this will immediately reduce the carbon in the atmosphere because it is one less car creating that pollution.
Another thing you could do with your community is plant trees, trees are an effective way to decrease the amount of carbon, “on average, one acre of new forest can sequester about 2.5 tons of carbon annually.” Below I have a basic diagram showing how the carbon in the air can be absorbed by the trees.
Works cited:
“5 Ways Gardening Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.” Climate Action Business Association (CABA), 26 Apr. 2018, cabaus.org/2015/03/20/5-ways-gardening-can-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/.
Brooks, Raillan. “9 New Ideas to Cut Carbon Emissions.” Audubon, 9 May 2016, www.audubon.org/magazine/september-october-2014/9-new-ideas-cut-carbon-emissions.
ECF, ecf.com/news-and-events/news/how-much-co2-does-cycling-really-save.
“How Many Planets Does It Take to Sustain Your Lifestyle?”
Ecological Footprint Calculator, www.footprintcalculator.org/undermaintenance.
“Is Solar Power Truly CO2 Free?” LG Solar, www.lgenergy.com.au/faq/buying-a-solar-system/is-solar-power-truly-co2-free.
Trees Improve Our Air Quality, urbanforestrynetwork.org/benefits/air quality.htm. User, Super. “Monthly CO2.” CO2.Earth, 9 Mar. 2020, www.co2.earth/monthly-co2.
Carbon dioxide, also known as CO2, Is a type of greenhouse gas that contributes to polluting the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide comes from the burning of fossil fuels. A fossil fuel, like coal, natural gas, and oil, comes from the remains of plants and animals formed in the earth over time. Fossil fuels are used widely all over the world. People use fossil fuels because they can be cheaper than other energy sources. With the use of fossil fuels being so high there is so much carbon dioxide being emitted into the air, this is not good for the environment because it contributes to global warming. In March the year 2000, the amount of carbon in the air was 370.60 parts per million. This year, March 2020, the amount of CO2 in the air is 414.11 parts per million. This number will continue to rise each year if we do not do anything significant to change how much carbon we put into the world. When calculating my personal carbon usage I got about 8.8 tonnes of carbon released per year. In other words that is the same amount as 990 gallons of gas being consumed. My annual greenhouse gas emissions are 21,836 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle. The average amount of carbon emissions in the United States of America as of 2014 is 16.49 metric tonnes. In comparison the amount of carbon emission in Afghanistan is 0.30 metric tonnes as of 2014.
There are a number of different actions one could individually do to reduce the amount of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere including riding a bike, gardening, or solar panels. Riding a bike every day can reduce the carbon emissions, it saves “about 21 g of CO2 emissions per kilometer.” Gardening is a way you can reduce your carbon emissions. By making your own food at home you can save about “68 lbs of CO2 per year.” Solar panels can also help reduce carbon from the atmosphere and according to LG, “around 10.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions” are saved per year.
There are options for people to do as a community because the more people you have involved the greater the impact you hold. One thing that you could do with other people that would help offset carbon is carpooling with some friends. Doing this will immediately reduce the carbon in the atmosphere because it is one less car creating that pollution.
Another thing you could do with your community is plant trees, trees are an effective way to decrease the amount of carbon, “on average, one acre of new forest can sequester about 2.5 tons of carbon annually.” Below I have a basic diagram showing how the carbon in the air can be absorbed by the trees.
Works cited:
“5 Ways Gardening Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.” Climate Action Business Association (CABA), 26 Apr. 2018, cabaus.org/2015/03/20/5-ways-gardening-can-reduce-your-carbon-footprint/.
Brooks, Raillan. “9 New Ideas to Cut Carbon Emissions.” Audubon, 9 May 2016, www.audubon.org/magazine/september-october-2014/9-new-ideas-cut-carbon-emissions.
ECF, ecf.com/news-and-events/news/how-much-co2-does-cycling-really-save.
“How Many Planets Does It Take to Sustain Your Lifestyle?”
Ecological Footprint Calculator, www.footprintcalculator.org/undermaintenance.
“Is Solar Power Truly CO2 Free?” LG Solar, www.lgenergy.com.au/faq/buying-a-solar-system/is-solar-power-truly-co2-free.
Trees Improve Our Air Quality, urbanforestrynetwork.org/benefits/air quality.htm. User, Super. “Monthly CO2.” CO2.Earth, 9 Mar. 2020, www.co2.earth/monthly-co2.
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