Our Biggest problem pertaining to climate change today is how our transportation is affecting the world. While different people vary in different carbon footprints, the fact that our actions as a society could be affecting our icy tundras and our waters with the biggest problem being our views on it
The biggest concerning denominator among many Americans, and the rest of the world for that matter, is driving the question that is proposed: does driving affect climate change the most? To which the answer is no. the reason why there’s such a fuss over driving and climate change is because we think right now that they are the driving force behind the excessive carbon emissions. The truth is located in an article on globalchange.gov titled “Transportation,” states that, “In 2010, the U.S. transportation sector accounted for 27% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with cars and trucks accounting for 65% of that total.” So, while 27% is a great amount of emissions, It doesn’t account for everything. While doing some research, I came across that carbon emissions are shared b etween three major categories: Electricity (21%), Industry (21%) and Transportation (27%). The other two are: Commercial and Residential (12%), and Agriculture (9%) (This is as of 2015). The main focus here is Electricity. The E.I.A. (EIA.gov- the E.I.A’s response to an FAQ) said that, “the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,812 kilowatt hours (kWh), an average of 901 kWh per month.” While The U.S. doesn’t have the most running electricity, it falls into the top 10. However, the amount of electricity usage account for is appalling. As an example, something we can do as a society is invest more into our street lamps, improving them to a point where we can save energy in our streets. While Electricity is a very large dilemma of whether we need it or not,  Industry is also a great concern being that it’s spreading toxicity throughout our oceans. In an article by National Geographic titled, “The Acid Sea,” they make a direct correlation between the carbon emissions and the Sea acidifying, saying that, “The air and water constantly exchange gases, so a portion of anything emitted into the atmosphere eventually ends up in the sea.” Then goes on to say that scientists have been conducting a research project analyzing more than seawater samples. This project was not in vain, because, “It showed the oceans have absorbed 30 percent of the C02 released by humans over the past two centuries. They continue to absorb roughly a million tons an hour.” This shows how much we are affecting our oceans, without knowing it. Furthermore, how is our industry affecting carbon emissions? a short article by Environment America, It’s brought up that, “The nation’s power plants emitted 2.56 billion tons of global warming pollution in 2007...” this shows how our carbon emissions, such as power plants, are affecting our environment, and how they are all connected within a circular motion. However, adapting new, economical power plants are an idea proposed by the University of Concerned Scientists (U.C.S) as they state that “To help prevent the worst consequences of climate change, the United States must achieve economy-wide net-zero emissions by or before mid-century.” and that,“Nuclear power produces very few lifecycle carbon emissions. It also faces substantial economic challenges, and carries significant human health and environmental risks.” Essentially, we need to start taking action. There’s not enough people urgently involved in preventing climate change, and It can start with our youth. People like you and I can can come up with more and more ideas to prevent climate change and really make an impact in our world, because our world really needs it.
-Be sure to check out following sources:
National Geographic Magazine - NGM.com, ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2011/04/ocean-acidification/kolbert-t ext.
“Greenland's Melting Ice Sheets: Climate Change's Disastrous Effects.” Rollingstone.com, www.rollingstone.com/feature/greenland-melting.
“Menu.” National Climate Assessment, nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/transportation#statement-10194 .
“New Report: Power Plants Emit Three Times the Pollution of All the Nation's Cars.” New Report: Power Plants Emit Three Times the Pollution of All the Nation's Cars | Environment America, 2009, www.environmentamerica.org/news/ame/new-report-power-plants-emit-three -times-pollution-all-nation’s-cars.
“Nuclear Power & Global Warming.” Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-power/nuclear-power-and-global-warming#.Wc2Ww0u GO00.
“Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 2017, www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions.
“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” How Much Electricity Does an American Home Use? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=97&t=3.