Mitigating Carbon Pollution in Texas Paramount to note, Texas is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in America. According to a yearly report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas released 652.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2016 (Leibowicz). The figure represents 10% of the entire country’s carbon emission. Markedly, the state is endowed with natural raw resources that are essential in the production of petrochemicals and chemical goods. However, exploitation of these natural resources by the power plants and other manufacturing industries result in carbon pollution. The carbon emissions from the coal, petroleum, and natural gas sectors are the primary contributors to climate change in the country. For instance, carbon pollution has resulted in severe storms, floods, wildfires, and heatwaves. In 2011, Texas experienced the hottest summers in the country with some days experiencing over 100oF (Leibowicz). Also, in the same year, more than 1500 people in Texas lost their homes due to destructive wildfires. Additionally, carbon emissions have resulted in an increase of respiratory infections such as asthma and chest pains. As a result of the adverse effects of carbon pollution, the Texas Air control board should adopt a clean air program which will ensure decrease of carbon pollution. To mitigate the effects of carbon pollution, Texas should be ready to adopt a clean air program that will ensure the amount of carbon released
“Texas is uniquely susceptible to climate change, perhaps more than almost any other state” (Public Citizen,2018). Texas is prone to droughts and has had its fair share of hurricanes and tornadoes Texas is no stranger to natural disasters. Even though climate change may not be the reason for the current natural disasters. Climate change does mess with the climate patterns which in the future can lead to it affecting how common those disasters will be. The way Texas is dealing with this particular issue is by creating different policies to help with the environmental problems. These policies have
There are various types of air pollution contributors in California such as fire generated pollutants and vehicle traffic, which add particulate matter and carbon monoxide into the air we breathe. According to an article by Union of Concerned Scientists (Cars, trucks, and air pollution, 2014) particulate matter is made up of fine particles soot and metal that can pose serious threats to human health when deep in the lungs. Other pollutants emitted from vehicles are: nitrogen oxide which lowers the body’s defense system against respiratory infections such as pneumonia, carbon monoxide which blocks oxygen from reaching vital organs, sulfur dioxide which is emitted by both power plants and vehicles affect children and asthmatics, and hazardous air pollutants (toxics) which are chemicals that are linked to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014).
I am writing to you to inform you of the dissemination of carbon in the United States and its negative effect on our earth. In order to maintain a healthy atmospheric balance, we must reduce our carbon emissions before the situation intensifies. According to experts from JPL and NASA, world temperature has been fluctuating for the past 650,000 years. It has been steadily increasing since the early 700’s and it is predicted to rise exponentially as long as we have an abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (nasa.climate.gov). Furthermore, an increase in temperature will bring more droughts, less agriculture, and more wildfires. As the summers get longer and hotter, more disease carrying insects will be active for longer periods of time.
Air Pollution today has lead CDC's fight against environmental -related respiratory illness, including asthma.An estimated number of 6.5 million deaths are attributed each year to poor air quality, making this the world's largest threat to human health.According to the World Energy Outlook and the IEA estimate that death due to household air pollution in Africa may decrease by 110,00 to 2040.However, due to economic growth, urbanization and automobile emissions, outdoor air pollution may rise from 300,00 to 450,000 over the same period. Am going to be looking at the causes of air pollution. the problems emerging with air pollution and also how we as a community can help decrease the amount of death rate associated with air pollution.I remember growing up in Africa Air pollution was always a talk about a subject that always comes out because it is really contagious due to the fact that we are breathing bad air that is caused by our human contribution to the environment.Air pollution is considered to be a public health problem, it is responsible for most of our health problems after some research has been conducted in many different parts of the world and regions. According to the Geochemistry and Health paleopathological research suggests that air pollution is a form of smoke, plagued our oldest ancestors.Air pollution has emerged as one of the leading risk factors for stroke worldwide.
but when it comes to greenhouse gases they don’t discriminate. If something is not done soon even in Texas we would need a cold weather Parka year round. Currently I live in Texas so let us talk about Texas energy. Persons that are not familiar with Texas might not know this
In the absence of federal legislation, states have the liberty to address climate change and formulate policies that mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Texas and California have similar deregulated energy markets and economic goals, yet have pursued different policies, providing a fitting opportunity for Texas to analyze, compare and consider California’s comprehensive law and regulations designed to mitigate GHG emissions. Key focus areas include electricity generation and use , transportation, and industry . Given the comprehensive focus of energy policies, this report specifically emphasizes electricity generation and use. ,
Officials in the Obama administration are nearly ready to unveil their unprecedented regulation of the oil and gas industries by ordering the reduction of methane emissions in the United States by 40 to 45 percent within the next ten years. Such a drastic alteration would significantly change how natural gas is produced and consumed and transform the entire electric industry in the country, potentially shifting its reliance on fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Though methane constitutes only nine percent of emissions, far less than carbon dioxide, it has over twenty times the effect toward global warming as carbon dioxide has and is therefore important to regulate. Also, the Obama administration has initiated reductions in emission
Carbon Dioxide emissions in the United States have decreased by 12% since 2005 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (Lindstrom, 2016). Almost 70% of
“Some Texas conservation groups fear that gains made in recent years for cleaner air and water could be rolled back by Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress.”(pns 11/28/16) Throughout the campaign season, President-elect Donald Trump has made clear his views on global warming, saying that global warming is not a true problem. Environmental groups in Texas have started to worry about what this could mean for the state. The environmental groups worry about the damage that can be caused by putting an end to a variety of environmental programs. Other interest groups in Texas have also spoken up against the newly elected president. Fearing the actions he will
Common-sense regulatory initiatives, developed by EPA to minimize greenhouse gas was found to be efficient. For example, EPA's vehicle greenhouse gas rules will save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump by 2025, and eliminate six billion metric tons of GHG pollution. EPA's Clean Power Plan addresses emissions from power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in the country. When the Clean Power Plan is fully in place in 2030, carbon pollution from the power sector will be 32 percent below 2005
Tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere every day and the consequence is the destabilization of Earth’s climate and damage to existing and endangered ecosystems. In order to avoid these ramifications, carbon emissions must be reduced. Industrial nations like the United States rely heavily on the burning of billions of tons of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, as their primary source of energy generation. Unfortunately, this has led to the United States being one of the top leaders in carbon emissions in the world along with India and China (Woodard, 2007, pg. 27). A proposed solution that has already been implemented in several nations is the carbon tax (CO2 tax), which puts a price on and taxes the carbon dioxide emitted from the burning of fossil fuels and makes polluters pay the price for the emission of their negative externalities into the environment. As fuel follows through with the combustion process, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere where it remains. The carbon dioxide traps the heat in the Earth’s atmosphere leading to a rise in global warming and climate change (Carbon Tax Center, 2016a, What’s a Carbon Tax section, para. 2). A carbon tax can quickly and easily be implemented by the United States federal government and has the potential to conserve the environment by reducing carbon emissions,
Most of the gas is used in cars, light trucks, and motorcycles, but it is also used in small boats and watercraft and in landscaping and construction equipment. Reducing pollution from these sources has been a focus of many people who want a change and smarter way to power our everyday tech with more clean, eco-friendly, power source. The Clean Air Act is a law that finds a way to reduce air pollution in the United States. The Clean Air Act was established in 1970, and since then aimed to reduce pollution from gasoline use by requiring the use of less polluting engines and fuels among other items that use fossil fuels. The burning of gasoline produces carbon dioxide and a greenhouse gas that causes a drastic global climate change. Gasoline is a toxic and highly flammable liquid. The vapors given off when it completely burned and the substances produced when it is burned creates (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and, unburned hydrocarbons) contribute to air
Global warming has been a controversial topic for years and some have even denied its existence; however, as more studies are being published every day in regards to our changing climate, it is hard to ignore this growing issue and how humans contribute to it. The term greenhouse gases refers to the group of gases that are primarily responsible for global warming and chief among these gases is carbon dioxide. Rising carbon dioxide levels can be attributed to a combination of burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum as well as deforestation in general ( Source A). To slow the effects of global warming, it is important for leaders in our society to consider their greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, and make
Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been an increased presence of pollutants and carcinogens in the environment, specif-ically in urban areas.1 The presence of airborne pollutants can lead to an increase in allergic reactions and asthma rates. A common airborne pollutant is carbon monoxide (CO), which is commonly found in diesel exhaust. It is an odorless gas produced from me-thane and non-methane hydrocarbon oxidation.2 The toxic gas eliminates and takes the place of oxygen in the form of carboxy-hemoglobin when it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells. It also affects the binding sites of heme groups, which complicates the transfer of oxygen to tissues.3 The majority of deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning is brought on from car exhaust.4 Between the years 1979 and 1988, 57% of deaths from carbon monoxide poi-soning were brought from car exhaust. There tend to be higher rates of carbon monoxide poisoning from car exhaust in northern regions, where temperatures are relatively low (Figure 1). 5
The increase in CO2 emission is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are carbon-based fuels from fossil carbon deposits, including coal, oil, and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels is a big part of life because it powers automobiles, heats and cools homes, and generates electricity. This combustion of fossil fuels is about 90% of the total emission in the world (Greenhouse gases, Climate change, and energy). When this fuel is burned, it pollutes the atmosphere and increases the global warming process. What makes CO2 dangerous is the fact that it is nonrenewable and it warms the earth faster. CO2 emissions should be lowered because when the earth is warmed up this and other greenhouse gases increase the rate at which the polar ice caps melt, resulting in increasing sea levels and flooding. To help reduce these CO2 emissions replacing a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb can save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (Al Gore, reduce your impact at home, 1), moving a thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year (Al Gore, reduce your impact at home, 3). Another great way to reduce CO2 emission is by switching to energy efficient appliances which can save 175 million pounds of carbon dioxide. These are one of many fantastic ways to help save the environment and drastically reduce the amount of CO2 being put into the atmosphere(Al Gore, reduce your