Carbon Emissions as One of the Causes of Environmental Pollution - Coursework Example

Carbon emission Abstract Carbon emission is known as one of the major causes of environmental pollution from industries. It mostly emanates from burning of fossil fuels for generation of energy or decomposing materials, which are made from petrochemical materials. This study focuses on reduction of the carbon emissions using technology. Environmental sustainability refers to environmental activities with the capacity for continuance, more or less indefinitely into the future. The past twenty years have seen a substantial accumulation of evidence that, in aggregate, the current human ways of life do not possess that capacity, either because their environmental conditions necessary for their continuance, or because their environmental effects will cause unacceptable social disruption and damage to human health. The environmental effects include; climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, toxic pollution and depletion of renewable and non-renewable resources. Carbon emissions have taken over as the main source of pollution. Through various methods, information technology has provided solutions to the problem of carbon emissions. The ICT equipment enables energy saving and coming up with new methods of energy conservation, thus reducing carbon emission. Information technology should be used in reducing carbon emissions, in various sectors of the economy. Also, they require improvements so as to curb small leaks through which they pollute the environment by releasing carbon emissions. Introduction There are two reasons why the chemical process industry should be motivated to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The first reason entails the rising concerns in companies, the public and scientific community about climate change or the global warming. Second is the increasing fraction of energy in manufacturing costs. To solve the problem of global warming is to control the amount of carbon dioxide that is being emitted from automobiles and fossil fuel power plants that generate electricity. The atmosphere is being polluted with smog from the production of electrical energy, and the community is finding it hard to deal with the problem. Despite the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, we need to realize that, the dynamics of industrial energy usage are changing with time (Tribal energy and environment information: clearing house). More energy is required to facilitate the operation of the growing number of industries. According to the report by the Washington post in 2008, it was realized that, the burning of coal for the purposes of electricity production and cement production resulted in a total of 8.47 gigatons of carbon emissions in 2007. This is an increase of 2.9 percent from the total amount for 2006. The report established that, natural carbon sinks have been able to absorb 54 percent of the carbon dioxide emission since 2000. Natural carbons are unable to keep up and their absorption has dropped, when compared to the period of 1959 to 2000. A natural carbon sink is a manmade or natural reservoir that accumulates carbon dioxide for an indefinite period. The oceans are considered a natural sink for the sequestration of carbon dioxide. This research indicates that, the earth’s atmosphere takes in a yearly average amount of 4.3 gigatons of carbon dioxide, with no place to go. These levels continue to accumulate, and there needs an urgent measure to prevent the accumulation of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The United States is estimated to produce a quarter of all excess air pollution, and which is approximately 1.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide. Burning of coal for industrial purposes is known to be the principal cause and the most significant component of greenhouse gas emissions. Technology is available to prevent the continuing buildup of pollution in the carbon dioxide. The ultimate answer to solving air pollution is to recycle air contaminants into the production of bio-fuels, which can be used as a source of green energy or hydrocarbon fuel. It is possible to reduce the problem of global warming, because the power utility sector can produce algae and feed the dry material back to a fossil fuel boiler (Sobotta, Sobotta and Gøtze 45-48). The other option is to a synthetic fuel oil at the emission source of carbon dioxide. The whole world must take initiatives that allow production of energy and power without polluting the environment. This occurs, not through ceasing power production, but opting to increase and diversify the way we produce and use the power. The innovations in technology can be used to produce new bio fuels and manufacture energy that the world needs for its applications. Comparing and contrasting initiatives by Australian and Saudi Arabian governments The initiatives by the Saudi Arabia government to curb carbon emissions; Saudi Arabia being the world’s largest producer of oil, which is amongst the main sources of carbon dioxide pollution, has been making efforts to face the reality of curbing carbon emissions. Saudi Arabia contains about a fifth of the world’s proven oil reserves. Oil is the key to Saudi Arabia’s economy, amassing about 75 percent of the total government revenues. The resources from oil exports have given Saudi Arabia considerable influence in the world oil markets. Critics have argued that, the country was a leading dissident of the global climate conference in Copenhagen, where representatives of the world concerned nations met to agree on world’s initiative to combat climate change (Alcatel-lucent). The country has been accused of having played obstructionist role in climate change negotiations. The main point used to support this claims is that, the country’s government fears that reducing emissions will reduce oil exports, and adversely affect the economy. Also, there are claims that the country demanded payments of $100 billion to $200 billion to offset the future losses in oil revenue. Another common claim is that, the country delay tactics on passing of carbon curbing laws by denying scientific facts that humans influence climate changes. All this are claims made by other nations, but the truth is that, Saudi Arabia is making advances towards support of laws on curbing carbon emissions. According to the United Nations development programme in Saudi Arabia, the country is taking a more active role to enact policies towards a lower-carbon economy. There is growing push with the nation to develop and apply clean energy technologies, and reduce dependence of the domestic economy on oil consumption. Since 2003, the United Nations development programme, partnered with King Abdul Aziz city for science and technology, and lead private sector partners, such as the Saudi Aramco and Saudi basic industries corporation, to increase demand side energy efficiencies in key sectors of the national economy. On 2005 the Kyoto protocol, an international treaty designed to slow down global warming by lowering carbon emissions came into effect. The Australian government did not ratify the protocol it had previously, committed to limiting Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions growth to 108percent of its 1990 baseline. Effectively, this equates to a 30 percent target reduction of emissions from the business as usual projection. Instead, Australian government established greenhouse office, renewable energy initiatives, energy market reforms, tree planting and vegetation. While Australia is a relatively small overall contributor to global emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas per person, is among the highest in the world. Australia’s large emissions per person are as a result of high usage of coal in electricity generation, the high dependence on car travel for urban transport, and road freight for haulage, and the aluminum smelting sector (Sobotta, Sobotta and Gøtze 92-95). It is clear that, both Australia and Saudi Arabia have not ratified the Kyoto protocol. It ensures nations take commitment control carbon emission; rather, each country has taken internal measures to curb carbon emissions. In contrast, as Saudi Arabian main carbon emission source is from oils and its products; in Australia, the main cause is burning of the coal in industries. Information technology as a cause of carbon emissions There is rapidly growing carbon emission from the information and technology communications. This includes laptops and personal computers, mobile phones, data centers and computing networks, as well as telecommunications networks. The first way information technology influences carbon emissions is by using vast amounts of electricity. It raises the need for electricity, which is produced by fossil fuels, thus raising carbon emissions indirectly (Carbon dioxide analysis center). Around 8 percent of the electricity produced in the European Union is consumed by information technology devices. They also produce low quantities of heat, which, in the long run, influences the room temperature. According to research 2 percent of carbon emission in the European Union comes from the ICT equipment’s and services, and household electronics sector. Indirect way ICT equipments contribute towards carbon emission is through e-waste. Whenever new technology is adopted, most of the old equipment’s becomes waste. Also, whenever spoilt beyond repair, the equipments are disposed. These waste materials undergo burning to get rid of them, or through the recycling process, in this way, they become sources of carbon emissions since they are mostly plastic. Information technology as a way of reducing carbon emissions Information technologies, also, in various ways assist in reduction of carbon emissions. They offer significant potential to mitigate carbon emissions; first, they make it possible to use energy efficiently, for example, in smart buildings where heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and use of electrical and electronic devices are optimized (Boccaletti, Löffler and Oppenheim). They are also essential for creating smart grids that will form the backbone of the low carbon electricity system of the future. Through video conferencing and teleconferencing information, technologies cuts carbon emissions from business travel. Diminishing carbon emissions can also be attained through business dematerialization, which involves replacing material documents by electronic ones, such as paper based systems as compared to electronic billing and payment. Conclusion Information technology is the way of the future, and should be used in all sectors of the economy. In carbon reduction, information technologies have proven reliable in various ways. The technologies are safe for the future, and for the immediate generations. Glossary ICT - Information and communications technology Petrochemicals - chemicals from petroleum products E-waste - electronic waste Annotated bibliography Boccaletti, Giulio, Löffler Markus and Oppenheim, Jeremy M. How IT can cut carbon emissions. 2008. Web. April 23, 2013. < https://book4time.com/www/files/McKinsey.pdf> The author focuses on showing information and communication technology as a way of reducing carbon emissions. In a great way, although he also explains how they act as sources of emissions. The article can be used in research works concerning the topic mentioned. Tribal Energy and Environment Information Clearinghouse (TEEIC). Ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. n.d. Web. April 23, 2013. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CD8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fteeic.anl.gov%2Fer%2Fcarbon%2Fcarboninfo%2Freduce%2F&ei=aeVuUbKNCuiN7AaD1oHABg&usg=AFQjCNH8DA64IzDj2hG4oJ92X-98V8-XTQ&sig2=rwZ-6rlTHZp-J5-2i5J_6g&bvm=bv.45368065,d.ZGU The author focuses on capturing and carbon from the atmosphere or fossils fuels, employing of energy efficiency and conservation of practices, as ways of reducing carbon emissions. Sobotta, Adrian T, Sobotta, Irene N and Gøtze John. Greening IT: How a Greening IT Can Form a Solid Base for a Low-Carbon Society. United States: Greening IT Initiative, 2010. Print. http://books.google.com/books?id=rydgmoY9ibgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=information+technology+and+carbon+emissions&hl=en&sa=X&ei=keVuUfltkLLsBoztgfAB&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAQ The author focuses on the showing information and communication technology as a way of reducing carbon emissions in a great way. He explains the main ways various applications controls carbon emissions. Alcatel-lucent. Information and Communications Technologies: Enablers of a Low Carbon Economy. 2010. Web. April 23, 2013. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&ved=0CHwQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alcatel-lucent.com%2Feco%2Fdocs%2FCMO7526101103_ICT_Enablers-eco_EN_StraWhitePaper.pdf&ei=aeVuUbKNCuiN7AaD1oHABg&usg=AFQjCNHQIVe47MgQqmEmuYoCE9RGiCcLDw&sig2=f7AoI2BC09-FJ1p5IDX4TA&bvm=bv.45368065,d.ZGU This journal explains on how technology can be applied to enhance low carbon economy. Carbon Dioxide Analysis Center. Managing Carbon Emissions. 2012. Web. April 23, 2013. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&ved=0CIMBEBYwCQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcdiac.ornl.gov%2Fpns%2Ffaq.html&ei=aeVuUbKNCuiN7AaD1oHABg&usg=AFQjCNGfA5zARZBW31EekCAY0nZwtJ7gzg&sig2=_bcZmTLMTkOL85PzkQTbWw&bvm=bv.45368065,d.ZGU Read More