Human Activities that Contribute to Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change - Book Report/Review Example

Human activities that Contribute to Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change Abstract Climate change is a real phenomenon which cannot be ignored. Climate change is partly the result of greenhouse gas emission. Greenhouse gas emission in nature helps keep a balance in temperature of the Earth's atmosphere. However, as the Earth's population grows, and human activities generate greenhouse gases which alter the level of naturally existing gases, it increases the temperature thereby causing climate change. In the following report, the researcher, outlines such greenhouse gases, how they have been generated from human activities and how they can be curtailed using the UK as the case in point. Introduction The earth's atmosphere comprises of natural gases which allow or disallow sunlight to enter the Earth's surface. Gases which do not allow the sunlight enter the surface, are radiated back into space as infrared radiation (heat) while those which allow sunlight to enter and trap infrared radiation in the atmosphere called greenhouse gases. This is how the Earth's atmosphere maintains a balance and keeps the temperature of the Earth's surface constant. There are many types of gases which demonstrate this greenhouse effect of absorbing infrared radiation and trapping heat in the atmosphere. While some are found naturally in the atmosphere others are the result of human activities through industrialization, consumption of some products which emit greenhouse gases, and/or waste material. Regardless of the sources, greenhouse gases are harmful for the atmosphere and have long-term consequences. Increase in greenhouse gases, scientists believe, will result in increase in the Earth's average surface temperature, which in turn will change the climate patterns from melting icebergs to increase sea level to increasing temperature in certain regions to the extreme. This leads the researcher to question the effect of greenhouse gases have on the environment and how can these be mitigated. Assessments by the international communities indicate that there are several driving factors which contribute towards greenhouse emission which are possible to curtail. Indeed, the widespread global warming phenomenon can be controlled if measures are taken by every human being on the planet. In the following report, the researcher shall outline human activities which contribute to greenhouse gases, the actions the local councils have under taken to reduce carbon footprint and pollution, and how the government has implemented its program to reduce greenhouse gases through waste management and policies. Causes and Measures of Reduction of Greenhouse Gases by Human Activities a. Human activities causing greenhouse gas emission Greenhouse gases comprise of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The contributions of these gases to global warming are indicated in the following chart (See Figure 1) (Defra 9). Human activities which contribute to the overall effect of greenhouse gas emissions include the use of airborne aerosol particles in industry, power stations and transport vehicles in highly populated areas. The pollution emitted from these sources accumulates in the atmosphere and changes the temperature, albeit at a slow pace. Studies indicate that human activities have induced the emission of other greenhouse gases such as hydrofluorocarbons, perflurocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. Different greenhouse gas has different effect or capacity to increase global warming. Similarly, changing land use, deforestation and agricultural activities also greatly contribute to the ability of the Earth to retain moisture, essential for maintaining a balance in the atmosphere (DefRa 9). The majority of the greenhouse gases are released through industrial activities such as the combustion of petroleum, coal, and natural gas for operating heavy machinery or process of industrialization. Agricultural activities too contribute towards greenhouse gas release which is emitted from nitrogen fertilizers or from burning fossil fuels (Energy Information Administration, Fisher et al 187). Not only this, waste treatment and disposal processes also contributes towards greenhouse emission such as methane from food waste. Even the use of certain products and its application emit greenhouse gases such as paint application in automobile industry, construction, and industrial painting. Processes such as degreasing, dry cleaning and electronics production require the use of solvents which emit PFC, HFC and SF6 which are harmful greenhouse gases (European Environment Agency; Fisher et al 187). Even in non-industrial institutions, the use of turbines, stationery, equipments like printers, and ventilation equipment emit greenhouse gases which contribute towards the increase in global warming and climate change in the long run. Some of these activities may directly impact emission while others are indirectly affecting the environment (EEA). b. Actions undertaken by local councils in the UK To mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases, the international community at Kyoto developed a plan called the Kyoto Protocol in December 1997 and agreed to reduce the overall emissions of greenhouse gases by certain percentage over the period of 2008 and 2012. The UK and the EU are partners in achieving this target to resolve the issue of climate change. In the UK, the target is to reduce emission 12.5 percent by the due date (BBC). The first step is to take stock of the status of emissions in the country using 1990 as a base year. This will help assess domestic greenhouse gas goal. This reporting is consistent with the Kyoto Protocol, which mandates that each partner country, including the UK take action to reduce annual emissions. So far the UK has been able to achieve 19.4 percent reduced emission annually which is more than the expected target of 15 percent of the base year to 2010 (Climate Change 30). In fact the UK has been active in devising policies which will involve local administrations to play their roles. In 2006, the government launched the public document Energy Review which introduced the concept of liberalization of the energy sector which helps deliver energy at a cheaper rate to encourage renewable energy and efficient delivery of energy. The purpose is to eliminate the use of nuclear power, and improve technologies to reduce carbon emitting equipment in generation and delivery in Scotland and the UK. Through the Renewables Obligation document, the government encourages the implementation of renewable energy supply in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Wind farms are being established in UK territorial waters at Wales, Norfolk, and Thames Estuary. To regulate suppliers, the government also issues Renewables Obligation Certificate with certain requirements and restrictions to companies or institutions which have plans for generating renewables (Climate Change 32). Business contributes a significant percentage 28 percentage below 1990 levels and is expected to be as low as 33 percent by 2010. Policy framework has been developed to reduce greenhouse gas through economic instruments, technology deployment, regulation, and disclosure of company information (Climate Change 44). Other than that, greenhouse gas emission from transport sector account for 21 percent of UK greenhouse gas emission in 2004. To reduce this government has mandated through the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, suppliers to include at least 5 percent of its energy from renewable sources. Road schemes like levying taxes on carbon emission, commuting through public transport, car pool or use of bicycles gear towards carbon emission reduction (Climate Change 61). The domestic sector emits around 27 percent of total carbon emission in the UK in 2004. Greenhouse gas emission is estimated to have fallen between the base year and 2004 but nevertheless the government is committed to take action in reducing greenhouse gas in this sector tool through Energy Efficiency Commitment, Building Regulations and fuel poverty programs. By introducing Code for Sustainable Homes, energy and water efficiency is increased. Building Regulations raises the standards for energy usage in new and refurbished buildings. Initiatives for informing consumers of Energy Using Products help direct public towards energy savings while the Energy Saving Trust and the Climate Change Communications Initiative are programs designed to create awareness among individuals (Climate Change 74). c. Promotion and implementation of 3Rs Apart from these initiatives, the government has also made considerable efforts to promote the implementation of the 3Rs (renewable, recycle, regenerate) based on the Kobe 3R Action Plan (2008). The purpose of the 3R initiative is to recognize the increase in waste level which are not treated and dumped into the environment. The quantity of raw materials wasted due to inefficiency also contributes to high waste level. Therefore it is imperative that nations and state to promote sustainable consumption and production which means to reduce, reuse and recycle materials and waste. According to the Kobe 3Rs, communities need to give priority to waste reduction and take action to reduce the use of plastic bags, single-use consumer products, integrating 3Rs in inputs, materials and energy consumption processes to reduce waste. Moreover, the communities should make efforts to improve on resource productivity to sustain resources. Since waste is directly related to greenhouse gas emission and climate change, its reduction is imperative by encouraging the use of organic material, creating waste management facilities, reducing landfills, and promotes technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emission (Climate Change 117). d. Water quality management Congruent with the implementation of Kobe 3Rs, is the implementation of water management program. Working closely with the Environment Agency, water quality management programs are initiated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Ofwat. The strategy of these organizations is to ensure water supplies is sustainable; the water environment is improved and protected; the consumer can afford water with relative cost charges for its delivery; reduced greenhouse gas emissions from water sector and provision of effective management of surface water. But more importantly, the government is working on a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emission from water quality management processes (DefRa - Future Water 69). These include the abstracting, pumping, treating, and heating water processes which consumes energy and releases greenhouse gas emissions. As the UK become more industrialized, urbanization increases, and agriculture becomes more productive, the consumption of water and its supplies will increase. This means that greenhouse gas from the water sector need to be managed in order to curtail greenhouse gas emission including from wastewater treatment, clean water supply and administrative and transport emissions. The focus of the strategy is to reduce water usage which will translate to reduction in energy usage and thereby greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved through efficiency measures for both industrial and individual consumers. The government is taking action to create awareness between the use of hot water and greenhouse gas emission for the public to take action against it. Similarly, energy performance in terms of domestic heating and hot water systems are also being improved for sustainable consumption (DefRa - Future Water 69). The water industry also emits greenhouse gas although at 1 percent of UK annual emissions. This figure is predicted to increase in the future as demands for quality water, with the growth of developments, urbanization and changing lifestyles will increase the demand for water. As a result, more water shall be treated for supplies and be the cause for greenhouse gas emission. The promotion of drinking tap water instead of bottled water is a step in the positive direction to reduce greenhouse gas emission from water quality management industry (DefRa - Future Water 69). Discussion From the above information, the researcher understands that greenhouse gas emission is not a composite phenomenon deriving from a certain sector or segment of society which can be curtailed by simple tax or levy. Instead, greenhouse gas emission has great consequences not due to its natural existence but as a result of human exploitations. Greenhouse gas emission in nature as discussed can in fact help keep a balance in temperature and the atmosphere of the Earth. However, when greenhouse gas is emitted more than required into the atmosphere it becomes dangerous for the population in the long term such as change in climate; environment; food; and materials which we require for living in today's urban lifestyle. For these reasons, it is imperative that as humans, we curtail our actions and activities which unnecessarily contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the activities though seem to be out of the hands of the individual but in fact they can be manageable if efforts are made consciously. In the UK, the government has been actively promoting greenhouse gas reduction and promoting the 3Rs which has been helpful in achieving the target of the Kyoto Protocol and the Kobe 3Rs. With active partnership with the EU, the UK has in the past decade concentrated on the improvement of its role as greenhouse gas reducer rather than increase it. For this purpose, it has devised multi-channel strategies for devolving the control of energy on individual, industries and businesses. By reducing energy consumption, generation and supply, the government has been able to achieve certain reduction level in greenhouse gas release. Similarly, the business and transport sectors have been great contributors towards greenhouse gas emissions which have been reduced significantly through the effective implementation of local transportation schemes and the encouragement of using alternative fuels. This has greatly contributed to the diversification of fuel consumption for transportation as well as new modes of transportation. Businesses on the other hand greatly benefit from the policy of greenhouse gas emission as it also save on resources, manpower and energy consumption such as the use of less paper, printers, and allowing employees work from home or through company car pool schemes. But that is not all, what makes the government's program most effective is awareness creation. When the government develops programs to reduce greenhouse gas emission at the grassroots level, through the individuals, its target can be met more rapidly. This is evident from reduction in food waste, reuse of plastic bags, recycle of product packaging, use of tap water and so on. These are small yet significant activities in today's lifestyles which contribute towards reduction in greenhouse gas emission. This is because, as urbanization increases in and near city centers, then the strategy for greenhouse gas emission for industries may remain not be as effective as individuals may. Individuals create more wastes through food waste, activities waste, and consumption of energy and water resources which increases greenhouse gas emissions significantly. If curbed, then individuals can help achieve reduction in greenhouse gas emission goals in the UK by 2010. Conclusion The above report leads the researcher to conclude that greenhouse gas emission through human activities result from different aspects of human exploitations. Industrial, business, individual, and consumption activities some how or the other contributes towards greenhouse gas effects on the environment. If these activities are identified, assessed and curbed early on, they can greatly reduce the level of greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere which is the cause for change in the climate and global warming. The global warming phenomenon thus is not a myth but a reality which shall impact all of us if not, curtailed through strategies for reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. Measures like those taken in the UK are effective and ideal but they need to be improved upon. Emphasis should be on individual contribution rather than on sector wise restrictions which can result in businesses and industries turning towards other sources and techniques which may have harmful effects on the other environment. The challenge for future scientists, administrators and government is to devise strategies which will help the country sustain in the long term and at the same time decrease greenhouse gas emission in the near future. Eventually, the individual is to benefit from it, if greenhouse gas emission is reduced by reducing human activities which contributes towards its emissions. Bibliography Author not available, "Kobe 3R Action Plan" from Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. Ninth meeting, Bali, 23–27 June 2008. Online accessed from: http://www.basel.int/meetings/cop/cop9/docs/i43e.pdf BBC, Climate Change, Online accessed from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/policies/ European Environment Agency. Online accessed from: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/EMEPCORINAIR5/page015.html Author not available, "Energy Information Administration Brochures". May 2008. 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