Human activities are changing the carbon cycle and contributing to climate change in several important ways. Here’s a simpler breakdown of how this happens:
Burning Fossil Fuels: When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for energy and transportation, we release about 36 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) every year. This causes the amount of CO₂ in the air to rise. Before the industrial revolution, the level was around 280 parts per million (ppm), but now it’s over 410 ppm.
Cutting Down Forests: Deforestation causes about 10-15% of global carbon emissions. Trees help take in CO₂ from the air during a process called photosynthesis. When we cut down forests, especially tropical rainforests, we lose this important carbon-absorbing ability. Around 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed every year, releasing about 1.1 billion metric tons of CO₂ back into the atmosphere.
Farming Practices: Agriculture contributes to carbon emissions in several ways. For instance, tilling the soil can release carbon that was stored in it. Additionally, using synthetic fertilizers can lead to a gas called nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is much more harmful to the climate than CO₂. Farming practices are responsible for about 10-12% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Industrial Work: Some industries, like cement production, release a lot of CO₂. Making one ton of cement emits nearly 0.9 tons of CO₂. This industry alone is responsible for about 8% of global emissions.
Waste Disposal: When trash is put in landfills, it creates methane (CH₄), which is another powerful greenhouse gas. Methane is 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere compared to CO₂ over a period of 100 years. In 2020, landfills were responsible for about 18% of methane emissions.
All of these activities add up and increase the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This leads to higher global temperatures, changes in weather patterns, and major effects on the environment, all of which are parts of the bigger problem of climate change.
Human activities are changing the carbon cycle and contributing to climate change in several important ways. Here’s a simpler breakdown of how this happens:
Burning Fossil Fuels: When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for energy and transportation, we release about 36 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) every year. This causes the amount of CO₂ in the air to rise. Before the industrial revolution, the level was around 280 parts per million (ppm), but now it’s over 410 ppm.
Cutting Down Forests: Deforestation causes about 10-15% of global carbon emissions. Trees help take in CO₂ from the air during a process called photosynthesis. When we cut down forests, especially tropical rainforests, we lose this important carbon-absorbing ability. Around 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed every year, releasing about 1.1 billion metric tons of CO₂ back into the atmosphere.
Farming Practices: Agriculture contributes to carbon emissions in several ways. For instance, tilling the soil can release carbon that was stored in it. Additionally, using synthetic fertilizers can lead to a gas called nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is much more harmful to the climate than CO₂. Farming practices are responsible for about 10-12% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Industrial Work: Some industries, like cement production, release a lot of CO₂. Making one ton of cement emits nearly 0.9 tons of CO₂. This industry alone is responsible for about 8% of global emissions.
Waste Disposal: When trash is put in landfills, it creates methane (CH₄), which is another powerful greenhouse gas. Methane is 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere compared to CO₂ over a period of 100 years. In 2020, landfills were responsible for about 18% of methane emissions.
All of these activities add up and increase the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. This leads to higher global temperatures, changes in weather patterns, and major effects on the environment, all of which are parts of the bigger problem of climate change.