United States Environmental Protection Agency (2020, January) Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
In this article, multiple figures are shown. The first figure illustrates the largest causes of carbon dioxide emissions. The order of these leading causes goes as follows: transportation (29%), electricity (28%), industry (22%), commercial and residential (12%), and agriculture (9%). After highlighting each of these causes, they are all described a bit in order to fully show what they are. Next, a figure showing emission trends over the last thirty years is given. In this graph, total greenhouse gas emissions by million metric tons increased from 1990 to around 2007, but since then has been on a downwards trend.
While transportation, electricity, and industry are all very close together in regards to carbon dioxide emissions, it is in fact transportation that is the leader. This shows that we as a country need to start addressing how to improve the cleanliness of our transportation systems such as: automobiles, busses, trucks, trains, planes, etc. Too much carbon dioxide is being emitted from these through the burning of petroleum. In regards to the downwards trend in total greenhouse gas emissions over the last 13 years, it can likely be attributed to several factors. The factor that I believe has the largest impact is the start of a transition from fully gas-powered vehicles to electric or hybrid powered. Given that transportation is the leading producer of carbon dioxide emissions, it would make sense that lowering these emissions would hold the largest impact on total greenhouse gas emissions nationwide.
The statistics that you provided were very interesting. I would have thought that agriculture would use much more energy. I was wondering that if we turned to electric cars as the solution, wouldn’t that just raise carbon emissions in the electricity catagory?
I agree that transportation needs to be addressed the most in terms of lowering our emissions. While hybrid and electric vehicles are definitely a step in the right direction, they’re really only replacing cars. Modern planes especially release tons of carbon dioxide, but technology to improve or replace them with more eco-friendly versions is basically at a standstill. My question is what do you think should be done to address the impact air travel is having on emissions?
If you believe it is viable to switch from gasoline to hybrid or electric power for transportation, how is that any better for the environment? Electricity accounts for 28% of CO2 emissions according to your stats.