Environmental Management - Case Study Example

Environmental Management Carbon dioxide reduction Introduction Carbon dioxide is a colourless and odourless gas that was discovered by a scientist by the name of Joseph Black in 1950s. It appears in form of a gas at the temperature of 20 to 25o C and it is a faintly acidic and non-flammable. This gas has a molecular formula of CO2. This means that the gas has a linear molecules consisting of one carbon atom and bounded together with two oxygen atoms as follows; O=CO. this gas can be found both in solid and liquid states at different temperatures (Murry 2011). It can appear in a solid state when the temperatures are very low such as below -78oC and appear in a liquid form only when it dissolves in water to form carbonic acid when pressure is maintained. On the contrary, when the pressure drops the gas will eventually escape into the air thus producing CO2 bubbles in water (McClelland 2010). The increase in carbon dioxide in the environment has caused alarm in ht e whole world thus calling for the reduction procedures to be identified. This paper will deal with reduction of the carbon molecules in the environment through reduction of dependency on oil as a major source of energy at home. The diagram below shows a molecule of carbon dioxide (McCarthy 2008). CO2-molecule Origin of carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is produced from living organisms through breathing out or exhaling process. Living organisms take in food for providing energy to their bodies. When this food gets into the body it is burnt to produce energy and the carbon dioxide is produced as a by-product. Through the inhaling and exhaling process, carbon dioxide is released out of the body of a living organism like man and other living organisms (Barrow 2006). On the other hand, human activities play a great role in releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For instance, the rate of carbon dioxide increase has been high for the last one hundred and fifty years. This has made it possible for the carbon dioxide molecules in the atmosphere exceed the amount sequestered in the oceans, biomass and other sinks. There has been an escalation of carbon molecules in the atmosphere for about 280 ppm. For instance, in 1850 to 364 majorly because of the activities of man during and after industrial revolution that began back in 1850. Human beings have been increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by engaging in burning of fossil fuels as their sources of energy, producing cement and by clearing natural forests for charcoal, farming and settlement. It is estimated that around 22% of the present CO2 concentrations that exist in the atmosphere because of the activities from human being. The fact remains that there is no deviation in the natural carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The additional amount of this gas is a result of human activities, which have very critical outcomes to the complete environmental system. The figure below indicates how industries contribute to the increase of carbon dioxide in the environment through burning of fossil fuel as a source of energy in their operations. The graph below also indicates the rate at which carbon dioxide has been increasing in the environment since 1900 up to 1940 due to human activities. Green House Effect The troposphere appears to be part of the atmosphere at about 10 to 15 kilometres in thickness. There are gases within the atmosphere, which are referred to as green house gases. When the sun lights its rays reaches the earth and are absorbed by green house gases and changed into heat thus causing heating of the earth. This is known as green house effect. Carbon dioxide is one of the major gases that cause heating up of the earth. This makes it important to arrange for its reduction in the atmosphere. Laboratory and atmospheric measurements enabled the discovery of the green house effect several years back and confirmation by scientist in laboratories. According to current life, it is most probable that the green house gases control the temperature of the world through trapping and conserving heat from the sun. If the green house effect stops to function, the earth would be completely covered by ice due to coldness. The amount of heat that is trapped by the green house gases determines the level of temperature on the earth. It is clear that the amount of heat that can be trapped in the atmosphere also depend largely on the concentration of the green houses gases and the duration, which the green house gases remain in the atmosphere. The most common and important green house gases include CO2 CFCs chlo-flouro-carbons, methane and nitrogen oxides. Since the revolution of industries in 1850, human being began processing goods that caused emissions of many green house gases like CFCs, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the environment. This in turn has greatly caused an environmental clash since the amount of green house gases increased tremendously. The result is that the climate of the earth is also changing due to the increasing level of temperatures. The addition of gases unnaturally to the green house effect is referred to as global warming. Probably global warming can have an effect on storm events, ice melting on caps of the earth poles causing flooding in the in nations that are inhabited together with other environmental problems. Carbon dioxide together with nitrogen oxides are the major green house gasses. However, hydrogen does not come out from industries during processing of good. In this relation, human beings do not make much contribution to the hydrogen content in the environment. Nitrogen content changes on its own naturally through hydrological cycle. This means that nitrogen do not cause global warming. Emission and increase of carbon dioxide causes around fifty to sixty percent of the total global warming. Currently the emission of carbon dioxide has increased from 280 ppm during 1850 to 364 ppm in 1990s. As discussed above, human activities contribute much on the emission of carbon dioxide in the environment. In all the activities, burning of fossils for energy takes the largest share of about 70 to 75 percent. This is the main emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The rest of the emissions of 20 to 25 percent come from clearing land and burning and other emission emanate from moving vehicles exhausts. The largest percentage of carbon dioxide results from industrial activities in the developed nations of Europe and the United States (Koester 2011). However, it is thought that the developing nations are also moving towards industrial production and thus contributing to the rising state of temperature across the globe. The rate of emission is expected to continue increasing if other alternative sources of energy will not be implemented soon and cause major problem in the world. It is unfortunate that once carbon dioxide gets into the environment, it remains there for a very long period. For instance, it can stay in the environment for around fifty to two hundred years. As it stays in the atmosphere, it greatly affects the level of temperature more than other green house gasses. Svante Arrhenius was the first person to predict that emission of carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuel and other combustion processes would lead to global warming. He published the paper by the name of On the influence of carbonic acid in the air upon the temperature of the ground in early 1896. At the start of 1930s, it was true that atmospheric carbon dioxide was on high increase and in 1950 confirmation revealed that it was going too high. From early 1990s, the theory of global warming war unanimously accepted although not every individual had to approve it (Dryzek & Scholsberg 2003). Changes for reduction of carbon in the environment Most people believed that paraffin is the only source of fuel for lighting at their homes. Currently it is important that when we engaged in transformation at home parents and other family members realized that it was possible to reduce over dependence on oil as the source of lighting (Brown & May 1989). Previously as observed above, paraffin, which is among the oil, products increased the amount of carbon dioxide. The innovation of using solar energy has greatly made impact in many homes. First, I decided to prepare a solar panel that trapped the sun’s rays and stored the energy by the use of a solar battery. It allowed me to use the light energy during the day and the night even if the sun was not available (Dryzek & Scholsberg 2003). The program enabled replacement of all the lanterns and other lighting programs that used paraffin at home shift to the use of solar energy. Citing the benefits, I connected all the rooms in the home with the solar power whereby all people had access to the energy (Dryzek & Scholsberg 2003). When the other neighbour identified the benefits of solar energy, they also admired the solar energy in their homes. I came up with a program that aimed to enlighten all the neighbours towards attaining the use of the solar energy. Currently, most of homes around are enjoying the use of solar power at relatively lower cost compared to the earlier program which they used paraffin to light their houses. Some have gone an extra mile of engaging solar power not only for lighting purposes but also running other electrical appliances and in their homes (Bulkeley & Geregson 2009). They use the solar energy electrical appliances like radios, televisions, computers among many other appliances. The picture below indicates a home that has used solar energy thus reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the environment. It is my belief that this program can act as an alternative source for energy in most of industries. Infarct this is a critical area since the industries only depend on fuel for production of their goods and services. I will continue to advocate for alternative sources of energy in all fields so that the level of carbon dioxide produced by all sectors goes down and make this world a better place for staying (Dryzek & Scholsberg 2003). Challenges involved Developing a new system can be very challenging. For instance, the solar energy required some extra cash that could cater for all the needs in completing the process. Although the program was on a small scale it, required great attention and formal support form skilled personnel. Some people who had skills in developing the solar panel turned down because of inadequate financial structure of the program. It was a major setback on the forward movement through the project. Educating people to shift from their normal routine is another critical challenge that anyone can take. In this case, most neighbours and even some members of the family were used to paraffin as a source of energy and power for lighting the house during the night (Frow 2006). They never visualized of any other alternative that could replace paraffin. Additionally, they were rigid to shift from the old tradition to the new living style. They failed to identify the problems involved in the use of paraffin at home. The smock that is produced by burning paraffin can easily affect all members of the community including the church, school, parents and the complete environment around the home. On the other hand, the solar system has many advantages that save the same group of people from the dangers. The diagram below indicates the different sections of the environment that have been saved from the harmful effects of carbon dioxide although some of them had really opposed the program at its initial stages (Koester 2011). Bibliography Barrow, C. 2006, Environmental Management for Sustainable Development 2nd edition, Routledge. Available as e-book Brown, M. and May J. (1989) The Greenpeace Story (Dorling Kindersley) Bulkeley H. And Geregson N. 2009, crossing the threshold: Municipal waste policy and household waste generation, environment and planning A41:929-94. Dryzek J. And Scholsberg D, 2003, Debating the Earth. The environmental politics Reade, New York, Oxford University Press. Esty, D. and Winston, A. 2006. Green to Gold: How smart companies use environmental strategy to innovate, create value and build competitive advantage. Frow F, 2006, inviduos distinction: waste, difference, clay stuff. In:G Hawkins and S. Muecke, eds. 2006. The ethics of waste: How we related to Rubish, Rowman and Littlefield: Lanham, 25-37. Kane, Gareth. 2010. The three secrets of green business. Unlocking competitive advantage in a low carbon economy. London: Earthscan. Available as e-book at ARU Library Koester, E. (Ed.) 2011. Green entrepreneur handbook: the guide to building and growing a green and clean business. London. Taylor and Frances. McCarthy, Donnachadh. 2008. Easy eco auditing: how to make your home and workplace planet-friendly. London: Gaia. McClelland, C. 2010, Green Careers for Dummies (John Wiley and Sons) Murry, P. 2011. The Sustainable Self. London: Earthscan Ofori, G. 2010. Sustainability Matters: Environmental Management in Asia. World Scientific Publishing, River Ede, NJ (USA). Available as e-book Stern, N. 2007, The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Report (Cambridge University Press). Also available in internet. Yarrow, Joanna 2007, 1001 ways to save the planet. Duncan Baird Publishers: LondonHarvard Business Review on Green Business Strategy (2007) Yarrow, Joanna 2008, How to reduce your carbon footprint. Duncan Baird Publishers: London Read More