Introduction
This report will be discussing how an growing population is increasing the amount of carbon emissions which are impacting the sustainability of the environment. Hence this issue links to the global context and statement of inquiry (elaborated on later).
Understanding the problem
In order to understand the problem it is needed to understand what the scientific concepts mean so that they can be applied.“Carbon emissions” ( formed when carbon is combusted and through the respiration of living organisms ) are odorless, non-toxic green house gases released into the atmosphere. A study concluded that “one child could produce 20 times more greenhouse gas than a person will save by driving a high-mileage car, recycling, using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, etc” (Source:Paul Murtaugh-2009). Increased amounts of carbon emissions creates a environmental and economical effect. As when CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere the temperature increases as the gas emits radiant energy which allows heat through electromagnetic waves and particles. Creating global warming. This leads to sea levels rising which destroys habitats and biodiversity in places like the arctic region, hence ruining the arctic food chain as with no sea ice there would be no algae and with out that invertebrates and fish wouldn’t survive (environmental factor). This domino effect would affect other ecosystems and areas as everything is interconnected. This is another link to the STOI as it also discusses how species and ecosystems are interconnected through sustainable functions. Global warming creates economical factors as well since it allows farmers to enjoy longer growing seasons due to the decreased amount of winter days.
Carbon footprint : How is science used and applied to address the problem
A “carbon footprint” usually refers to the amount of Carbon Dioxide sent into the atmosphere through various persons ,organizations or products. The problem states that an increased carbon footprint can result in environmental change. As mentioned earlier the change can be both positive and negative. For example the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity would be negative, however an increased growing season for farmers would be positive towards the environment and people dependent on agriculture. However in places such as Ethiopia and Kenya, climate change destroys farming land because of desertification. The land degradation process occurs due to an decreased amount of vegetation. This happens naturally through droughts and by humans through deforestation (the process of cutting down trees). The soil becomes arid and dry as the lack of vegetation exposes the soil to heat from the sun which leads to the soil drying out.
Biologists and other scientists have noticed the phenomenon of global warming. They have applied their scientific knowledge to understand what needs to change to reduce our carbon footprint. In order to reduce the emissions of the green house gasses and to save biodiversity through the maintenance of habitats which would prevent the removal of food chains more “carbon sinks” are needed. A carbon sink is a system which takes in more carbon dioxide than it releases. An example of a carbon sink would be the rainforest, as it has a large amount of vegetation which absorbs carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis. This is another way deforestation links onto our carbon footprint. We can also reduce our carbon footprint by reducing the amount of electricity consumed from fossil fuel power stations. Alternatively green sources of energy can be used. Methane and CFC’s (fossil fuel) emissions should also be reduced. You can reduce methane emissions by encouraging composting and incinerating against using land fills as it will reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going into the land fill. Another way to reduce the amount of methane would be to only spread manure on fields where methane is not released. It is important to reduce the amounts methane as it is 30 times more heat trapping than Carbon dioxide. Another Green house gas, CFC’S emissions can be reduced by only using air conditioning and refrigeration equipment that don’t have them as a refrigerant.
Evaluate the solutions
A solution listed to reduce our carbon footprint was to use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. For example wind turbines are relatively affordable and don’t cause pollution however, they are harmful to birds and wildlife. The disturbance of the wildlife will also negatively effect the ecosystem in the same way climate change would. So with the environmental and ethical factors the solution would cause similar issues that would arise with climate change. Another solution that is frequently mentioned to help reduce our carbon footprints are electric cars. While its true that they don’t need fossil fuels they still need electricity which is primarily produced by using fossil fuels. These cars can also damage ecosystems by leaking acid and other contaminants through its battery when not disposed properly. The factors that would effect this issue are environmental and ethical. A more realistic way to reduce carbon emissions from transport is by encouraging people to use public transport by decreasing the price or by adding more carpool lanes.
Conclusion
In conclusion the carbon emissions are impacting the environment and the world through phenomena such as but not limited to global warming. There are solutions available that can help reduce the severity of the problem however each solution has it own set of implications that need to be considered.