Climate Class - A Greenhouse Gas Primer
CLIMATE CLASS
A Greenhouse Gas Primer
Enrolling in a sustainable future, we examine what Greenhouse Gases are, and how they are working in our atmosphere.
We all know by now that excess greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases—when trapped in the earth’s atmosphere, wreak havoc on the planet. We are in a climate crisis of rising temperatures, natural disasters and an unprecedented loss of the earth’s biodiversity.
In 2017, the American Psychological Association defined this “eco-anxiety” many of us are now feeling with a fitting definition: “a chronic fear of environmental doom.” While the future isn’t certain, there are many actions we can take collectively and in our individual lives to consciously work within our new predicament.
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Carbon Cycle Overload
How did we get here? Carbon Dioxide as we all know is a natural byproduct of human and animal activity (we exhale CO2). The earth does a great job at absorbing carbon (oceans, land and vegetation absorb 55% of manmade CO2 each year) but excess emissions created by the combustion of fossil fuels for transportation, among other activities, remains in the atmosphere.
One major effect of increased greenhouse gas emissions is warmer oceans, which means ice caps melting, a diminished ability for natural carbon absorption and coral bleaching (coral expelling its protective ecosystem of algae, turning its tissue white). Both sea and land animals are being forced to migrate as climates become more extreme in temperature and precipitation (or lack thereof).
Possible Solutions:
There are many methods currently being developed to sequester carbon. Effectively managing existing forests, implementing reforestation projects, caring for soil through crop rotation and minimal tilling, using biochar and fertilizing the oceans are just some possible solutions. Civil engineer Mo Ehsani wants to prevent coral bleaching by using the energy produced by waves in the ocean to pump cooler water through fiber-reinforced polymer pipes onto the heat-stressed corals.
It’s important to note that as individuals we can also be mindful of our carbon footprint. Being conscious of how we move about the day—minimizing unnecessary car or air travel, consuming products and foods with low environmental impact, planting trees, recycling and reducing plastic use—can all go a long way.
The Methane Mess
Though methane gas contributes only ten percent of greenhouse gas emissions, it traps up to 80 times as much heat as carbon which makes it dangerous to an already warming planet. One huge culprit of methane emissions is animal agriculture, which is responsible for eighteen percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than combined CO2 emissions from all forms of transportation.
Possible Solutions:
One immediate solution to methane production is for humans to lessen their meat intake, especially pork and beef. One study says that a global shift to a ‘“flexitarian” diet is needed to keep the earth’s temperatures from further rising. “This flexitarian diet means the average world citizen needs to eat 75% less beef, 90% less pork and half the number of eggs, while tripling consumption of beans and pulses and quadrupling nuts and seeds.” This idea has begun to catch on in large numbers: since 2017, sales of plant-based food sales have increased by 30% in the U.S. and Meatless Monday has become a household tradition.
But it’s not just about the individual. Methane emissions from the oil and gas industry are also a major contributor to overall methane emissions. Scientists are planning to send a satellite into space that can pinpoint the source of methane leaks from from the oil and gas industry, which has the potential to cut these emissions by as much as 50%.
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Further Reading:
A New Climate Tipping Point : 2018 The Daily Podcast on the United Nations Climate Report
How Endless Economic Growth Is Incompatible with Supporting Life on Earth : Green Dreamer Podcast interview with Dark Optimism Founder
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*Special thanks to Lindsay Comstock for this educational article, Sophie Fabbri for contribution of her photos and Kayla Lynch for the always impeccable design*