Carbon Emissions: The Energy Connection

Fossil fuels are made up of hydrogen and carbon. When fossil fuels are burned, the carbon bonds with oxygen to create carbon dioxide. The higher the carbon content in the fuel, for each unit of energy produced, the higher the amount of carbon dioxide produced. Natural gas emit half the carbon dioxide as petroleum fuels and petroleum fuels produce about 3/4 of the carbon dioxide produced by coal. While we may assume using electricity is a better choice, many electrical plants are using coal to generate the electricity. This has lead to the development of wind driven electrical plants. It isn't an easy transition because of the cost of developing the infrastructure.

Fossil fuels supply between 80 - 85% of the primary energy consumed in North America and is responsible for 98% of the emissions of carbon dioxide. Eighty percent of emissions come from the use of coal and petroleum fuels.

Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. Sunlight strikes the earth's surface and some of it is reflected back towards space as infrared radiation (heat). Greenhouse gases trap this heat in the atmosphere - hence the comparison to a greenhouse which traps radiant heat, warming the space beyond the temperature outside. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are greenhouse gases that occur naturally. However, if the concentrations increase the amount of heat trapped in the earth's atmosphere increases.

Some greenhouse gases have increased 25 percent in the past 150 years. Partly because of industrialization. Three quarters of the human caused emissions during the past 20 years, have come from burning fossil fuels. Plant photosynthesis, a natural process, naturally controls the movement of carbon between the atmosphere and the land and oceans. However, clearing farm land, logging and other activities have upset the delicate balance of nature. Add to that the tons of fossil fuels we burn and the resulting carbon emissions are causing serious damage to our environment.

Carbon Emissions lead to increased greenhouse concentrations, which in turn results in changes in precipitation, storm severity, and sea levels - referred to as climate change. It is estimated that the earth's climate has warmed between 0.6 and 0.9 degrees Celsius over the past century and human activity is believed to be the main cause. While that may not seem like a major change in the climate, it is leading to melting ice packs and other damaging effects on ecosystems.

Human generated carbon emissions come from heating and cooling our homes and offices, and from fossil fuels used in cars and in to run manufacturing plants. Energy related carbon dioxide emissions come from petroleum, coal, and natural gas, represent 82 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.

Additional sources of greenhouse gas comes from methane, comes from landfills, coal mines, oil and natural gas processing operations and agriculture. These sources contribute to approximately 9 percent of total emissions. Nitrous oxide emitted from nitrogen fertilizers, industrial and waste management processes result in 5 percent of total emissions.

It is estimated that carbon emissions will increase by 1.8 percent annually between the present and 2030. As developing countries such as China and India economies develop their use of fossil energy will increase by approximately 2.6 percent per year.