Global warming is currently one of the most important environmental issues facing us today, and it’s also something that many people don’t fully understand. This lack of understanding means that fewer people are willing to take action to combat the rising temperatures, which can lead to further environmental damage. Knowing the top five causes of global warming can help you understand just how serious this issue really is, and how you can go about helping to curb it in your own life and in your own community.
1) Fossil Fuels
The burning of fossil fuels for energy releases heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere. While emissions from developed countries like the United States have been declining, developing nations are becoming bigger contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global warming. Carbon Dioxide: The main greenhouse gas emitted by human activity is carbon dioxide (CO2), which accounts for about 82% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuel combustion and deforestation release CO2 into Earth’s atmosphere, where it traps heat and contributes to global warming. Methane: Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has 21 times more impact on climate change than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. It comes from natural sources such as wetlands and termites and also from human activities including agriculture and landfills.
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide is another important greenhouse gas with 310 times more warming potential than carbon dioxide over a 100-year time frame. Agricultural fertilizers and animal waste contribute to nitrous oxide emissions. Fluorinated Gases: These gases—chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride—are synthetic compounds used in industrial applications ranging from refrigeration to aerosol sprays.
2) Deforestation
Deforestation accounts for 17% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Habitat destruction, specifically that caused by humans, has a large impact on global warming. Trees are nature’s way of absorbing carbon dioxide, so they play a significant role in slowing down climate change. Deforestation is one effect of human-made climate change. As more and more forests are cleared to make room for agricultural land or urban development, we release massive amounts of CO2 into our atmosphere. When trees are cut down and burned to clear space for crops or buildings, it releases harmful gases like methane and CO2 into our atmosphere.
These gases contribute to climate change and global warming. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that tropical deforestation accounts for 20 percent of all man-made CO2 emissions. That means if deforestation were eliminated entirely, we could reduce total global greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent! This would have a huge impact on reducing global warming and reversing climate change. In addition to releasing harmful greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere, deforestation also destroys natural habitat and disrupts local ecosystems. When animals lose their homes due to human encroachment, they often struggle to find new homes. This leads them further from their natural habitats which can cause other problems such as species endangerment.
3) Excess Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases—namely carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor—warm our planet by absorbing heat that would otherwise radiate back into space.
By burning fossil fuels for energy, we release excessive greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, which in turn causes global warming. The good news is that reducing your personal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions can have a direct impact on slowing global warming. Here are five ways you can do your part .
1. Stop Eating Meat: Livestock such as cattle, sheep and pigs produce massive amounts of methane through their digestive processes. Methane is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere. If every American skipped one meal containing meat each week, it would be equivalent to taking 500,000 cars off U.S. roads annually!
2. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: It may seem obvious, but how many times have you thrown away plastic bottles or aluminum cans without recycling them first? Reducing consumption of materials like these will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing new products.
3. Take Public Transportation Instead of Driving Your Car: Burning gasoline in your car releases carbon dioxide into our atmosphere; public transportation options like buses and trains don’t burn fuel, so they don’t contribute to global warming.
4. Unplug Electronics When Not In Use: Computers, televisions and other electronic devices draw electricity even when turned off. Unplugging electronics when not in use (or at least switching them to standby mode) reduces unnecessary energy use and helps prevent excess greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances: New appliances are made with high levels of energy efficiency in mind, meaning they consume less electricity while performing just as well. Look for ENERGY STAR-certified appliances when shopping for new ones; according to EnergyStar.gov , These products meet strict guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy that help us all save money and protect our climate through reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
4) Aerosol Pollution
Though it’s an oft-overlooked contributor to climate change, aerosol pollution—that is, particulate matter in our atmosphere that comes from sources such as smoke and industrial waste—is one of several key factors in greenhouse gas production. In fact, according to data from a 2009 UN report on climate change, carbon dioxide production caused by human activity is second only to carbon dioxide released through sinks like rainforests. The good news is that we can do something about it: Reducing or eliminating aerosol pollutants could cut CO2 emissions by as much as 10 percent.
There are several ways you can help out with reducing aerosol pollution: Don’t burn fossil fuels unnecessarily, recycle whenever possible, use energy-efficient appliances when you purchase new ones and opt for electronic devices over their more polluting counterparts (i.e., traditional light bulbs). For example, choosing LED light bulbs over fluorescent lights reduces your lighting power consumption by up to 80 percent; plus, LED bulbs last longer than other options (upwards of 15 years), meaning they save money over time. Not sure how to go green? Check out these tips.
5) Methane
Methane is a greenhouse gas which, though it does not stay in our atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide does, has a greater capacity to absorb infrared heat. It’s also produced by both natural and human sources—grazing animals, decomposing trash and even farting people contribute to methane emissions—and further contributes to global warming. Luckily, there are a number of things we can do in our daily lives that help fight against methane emissions.
Carbon Dioxide: While CO2 accounts for only about 0.04% of Earth’s atmosphere, it makes up more than 90% of all greenhouse gases. It also stays in our atmosphere much longer than other gases, meaning that even small amounts can have lasting effects on climate change. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your own carbon footprint at home or at work! Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): HFCs were created as replacements for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), another type of greenhouse gas whose use was banned after scientists realized they were causing ozone depletion. Unfortunately, HFCs don’t cause ozone depletion but still trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. Nitrous Oxide: This chemical compound may be better known for its uses in laughing gas and rocket fuel; however, when released into our atmosphere through industrial processes like fossil fuel combustion, it traps heat just like other greenhouse gases.
