It is anticipated that there will be demonstrated increases in the data available concerning CO2 emissions during the past 40 years. This increase reflects changes within certain variables, including the increase in the population and subsequent human activities which increases the amount of CO2 that is released into the atmosphere.
The purpose of the lab is to investigate the phenomena of CO2 emissions as it applies to observable increases or decreases in the data available as well as the causes of the increases or decreases. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there has been an increase of almost 9 percent in greenhouse gases that were released into the atmosphere between 1990 and 2014 (2016). In 2014, CO2 emissions were attributed with almost 80.9 percent of the greenhouse gases released in the United States. Certain human activities emit CO2 pertain to the use of fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil, which provide energy and transportation. The primary sources of CO2 from combustible fuel sources are electricity, accounting for almost 37 percent of all CO2 emissions in the U.S. in 2014, transportation, releasing approximately 31 percent of all CO2 emissions in the U.S., and industry, which demonstrated less CO2 emissions in 2014, rounding out the top three with 15 percent of the total; however, many industrial processes use electricity and these crossover emissions are considered to be indirect causes of emissions from the production of electricity. In addition, the substances used to produce electricity release carrying amounts of CO2, with coal producing more than oil or natural gas (EPA, 2016).
The data reviewed indicates that the supposition that CO2 emissions have increased during the past forty years is accurate as increases in the population have led to subsequent increases in the usage of natural resources. Other factors are also applicable in the trends concerning CO2 emissions, such as economic growth, fluctuating energy prices, emerging technologies, behavioural changes, and seasonal temperatures (EPA, 2016). It is also recognized that the only method to reduce the amount of CO2 that is produced and released into the environment relies on the alteration of human behaviours. However, that might be easier said than done.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Overview of Greenhouse Gases. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html
