How Carbon Emissions Are Impacting the Environment

There’s no denying that the world’s climate is changing. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s causing it, but we’re doing it. Humans are wreaking havoc on Planet Earth and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change soon. We’ve been polluting the air for far too long and it’s time we do something about carbon emissions and begin protecting ourselves from climate change.

What Are Carbon Emissions?

Carbon dioxide emissions are a natural part of the global carbon cycle. Carbon is an element that is a key ingredient to growing plants, animals, and every living thing on Planet Earth.

Green plants, like trees and grasses, take in carbon dioxide, which is transported through the vascular system of the plant.

The plant uses energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide into food through a process known as photosynthesis.

There are two types of carbon emissions: human-made and natural.

Human-made carbon emissions come from activities like driving cars, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing cement. Natural carbon emissions result from biological processes like breathing and decomposing plant matter.

Carbon is an essential part of our environment and ecosystem, it’s what makes up much of our atmosphere and water.

To maintain a healthy balance between carbon in the atmosphere and in the ground, there needs to be an equal amount of absorption and release of carbon.

When there is more carbon in the atmosphere than can be absorbed by plants or animals, it causes global warming because it traps more heat within Planet Earth’s atmosphere.

Carbon emissions can also have effects on our climate — they can cause extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts, as well as rising sea levels because of melting polar ice caps.

We Need to Realise That Our Environment Is Important

We live in a world where global warming has been a serious problem for the last several years. The environment is heating up and people are already being affected by it.

Many individuals have already realised the importance of our environment and how it can affect us.

Carbon emissions result in excess heat on Planet Earth’s surface, which leads to desertification, extreme weather and increased frequency of floods or storms.

Therefore, we must take steps to protect our environment before it’s too late.

For years, we have lacked many precautions to preserve the surrounding environment. As long as we have had record-keeping devices, humans have always had a negative effect on the ecosystem.

Our use of resources and pollution of the land, water, and air has caused measurable harm to Planet Earth. Our lack of knowledge about the environment is making our world unsafe.

If we do not take care of our environment, we will lose everything that makes life worth living; like our food supply and clean air and water to drink.

This could also lead to many problems and an increase in global warming.

Carbon Emissions Affect the Environment

We all know that humans have affected the environment. We’ve turned plants into fossil fuels and cut down trees at an exponential rate.

In fact, more land has been destroyed to make room for our growing population over the last century than in any other previous century in recorded history.

The effects of carbon emissions on the environment are often overlooked. But they’re just as important as any other environmental issue.

Carbon emissions can affect the environment in several ways, from changing sea levels to disrupting weather patterns. The following are some of the most common ways that carbon emissions affect the environment:

Climate change. One of the most obvious ways that carbon emissions affect the environment is by changing climate patterns around the world.

As temperatures rise, so do sea levels and air pollution levels — both of which can cause serious damage to ecosystems around the world.

Ocean acidification. As we burn more fossil fuels, we release more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere — and that CO2 eventually makes its way into our oceans.

As CO2 dissolves into seawater, it forms carbonic acid and lowers ocean pH levels (which scientists refer to as “ocean acidification”).

This process causes many problems for marine life as it disrupts their ability to form shells or skeletons in their bodies.

Sea level rise. As glaciers melt and oceans warm up, sea levels rise — which could cause coastal flooding on an unprecedented scale if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked.

We All Need to Start Breathing Cleaner Air

Did you know that over 80% of deaths caused by air pollution are due to respiratory illnesses? It is estimated that about 7 million people die every year from causes attributable to exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants.

While most people think of air pollution as something that only affects those living in big cities, the truth is, everyone is affected. In fact, over 90% of the world population lives in areas where pollution levels exceed WHO guidelines for healthy air quality.

Air pollution can lead to a variety of health problems such as asthma attacks, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or pneumonia, lung cancer and heart disease.

The effects of air pollution are also felt on unborn babies with studies showing that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight babies.

Several factors contribute to poor air quality including fossil fuels used for transportation, industrial emissions and agricultural processes such as farming or burning wood for fuel.

However, there are several ways in which we can breathe cleaner air.

Stop smoking – Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Keep doors and windows closed – When left open, doors and windows allow dust particles and exhaust fumes from vehicles into your home or office space.

Use an air filter/purifier – An air filter can help to remove dust particles that can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis as well as lung cancer.

We’re Damaging Oceans and Don’t Even Know It

Emissions from burning fossil fuels are altering the chemical composition of the oceans, causing acidification which has devastating effects on marine species and the habitats in which they live.

The oceans are dying, the climate is changing, and many species and habitats are being lost forever.

Why isn’t something being done? Carbon dioxide, which is used to manufacture many products, is having a devastating effect on the environment.

The problem is that Planet Earth’s carbon cycle has always been in balance with its atmosphere.

But since the industrial revolution, human beings have been releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere at an alarming rate.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a naturally occurring gas produced by all animals when they breathe out. It’s also released when plants absorb sunlight and use it to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates through photosynthesis.

Over time, the CO2 dissolves in rainwater and returns to the ocean or plants where it gets absorbed again by other living organisms.

It’s part of a natural cycle that has been going on for millions of years, but as humans continue to add more CO2 into our atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, this natural cycle has become imbalanced.

The oceans are now becoming more acidic as more carbon dioxide dissolves into them. This makes it harder for creatures like coral to grow their shells and skeletons.

The acidity of ocean water has already increased by about 30% since the beginning of the industrial revolution, so it is only going to get worse unless we act now.

Shrinking Sea Ice Is Causing Sea Levels to Rise

All of us have been hearing about global warming for decades now, but it wasn’t until recently that news of our shrinking ice caps was reported.

It’s hard to believe, but it is true: the ice caps are melting because of the greenhouse gas emissions that are being released into our atmosphere by humans.

Climate change results from carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

This warming effect has led to a rise in sea levels and changes in weather patterns around the world.

The melting of polar ice caps is one of the most visible effects of climate change. While this melting is disturbing, some of the most serious effects could be felt around the world from flooding and sea level rise.

As ice caps continue to shrink, it impacts local ecosystems and has the potential to raise global sea levels by over 6 feet.

The Antarctic Peninsula is one area that has seen a lot of melting because of climate change. In fact, it’s one of the fastest warming places on Planet Earth right now, with temperatures rising at twice the global average rate since 1975.

It’s also an important breeding ground for penguins, seals, whales, and fish–meaning if something happens there, it will impact them too.

This is another sign of climate change that has the potential to cause major problems for the world.

Extreme Weather Events Are Getting Worse

More extreme weather events are affecting people everywhere, especially those in the middle of hurricanes. So, how is this possible?

Warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels lead to stronger hurricanes, which can affect people all over the world.

As the world continues to get hotter and hotter every year, we are seeing more and more extreme weather events such as flooding, drought, and heat waves.

And it’s not looking like it’s going to stop soon. Scientists predict that if we do nothing about carbon emissions and pollution, we may witness 7-8 more degrees of global warming by 2100.

When you think about it, 8 degrees isn’t much in temperature, but when you’re talking about climate change, every degree counts.

Heat waves are a common occurrence during the summer months. While they can be uncomfortable, they aren’t considered dangerous.

But when temperatures rise above the average for several days or weeks, it becomes a significant problem for human health.

Heat waves can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke if you aren’t careful. They also can increase your risk of sunburn and dehydration when you’re outdoors for long periods during hot weather.

Heat waves are responsible for thousands of deaths each year and have been associated with major wildfires, flooding, and other extreme weather events.

Worldwide, heat waves have caused an increase in emergency room visits for heat-related illnesses.

The Impact We Can Make on the Environment

The debate about the impact of human-made carbon emissions on our climate and environment is a highly charged and emotional subject.

Car exhaust and other emissions from everyday combustion do contribute to increased carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere.

I’m not here to change your opinion or tell you why you’re wrong for feeling strongly about your point of view. But I am here to help you understand how we can make a positive difference in this world by changing some simple habits.

Each time we turn on a light bulb, use the microwave or drive our cars, we are using energy that produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG).

While you might think you don’t contribute to this because you leave your house in the morning and come home at night, that’s not necessarily true.

In fact, more than half of GHG emissions come from individuals and households around the globe. Have you ever considered how much waste you are responsible for?

If not, it might be worth looking at how your actions affect the environment. Human beings are using more natural resources than Planet Earth can replenish.

We have made an impact on the environment. How big is not exactly known, but it is large enough that some of the changes we have caused are being noticed.

Evidence of our impact is all around us — in melting Arctic ice, rising sea levels, and changing climate patterns… and that’s just a few examples.

We can all help reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

Ever thought about how carbon dioxide emissions are rising at an accelerating rate? And how the average temperature on Planet Earth has increased by almost 1°C over the past 100 years?

What about how we’re damaging ecosystems and seeing more frequent droughts and natural disasters around the world?

Or, how a rapidly changing climate is bringing irrecoverable changes to wildlife and habitats across the globe?

Our carbon footprint on Planet Earth is increasing due to the amount of pollution we create each year and the rate at which people are using fossil fuels.

Luckily, there are ways that you can help reduce climate change by reducing your own carbon emission levels.

The environment is always changing, but we humans have made it worse. Planet Earth is warming up and we must do something about it!

Carbon emissions are a major contributor to climate change. This is because carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most common greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Carbon dioxide is produced through natural processes such as respiration and combustion of fossil fuels, but also by human activity.

People release CO2 when burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas for energy or transportation. It’s also released during deforestation and land use changes.

The more you reduce your own carbon footprint, the less pollution you create and therefore help reduce climate change on a nationwide scale.