Global warming and pollution, is Carbon the only culprit?
There are several other key contributors to global warming and air pollution other than CO2. What we saw during the pandemic was a drastic reduction in all of the greenhouse gasses. As road travel, industry slowed and people only left their houses to exercise (in certain locations) or to buy the essentials, we saw a drastic drop. We saw absorption rates rise and the earth, very quickly began to heal itself. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the main headline grabber when it comes to the gasses that are listed for causing global damage however there are more that needs to be listed.
Carbon dioxide (CO2): Fossil fuel use is the primary source of CO2. CO2 can also be emitted from direct human-induced impacts on forestry and other land use, such as through deforestation, land clearing for agriculture, and degradation of soils. Likewise, land can also remove CO2 from the atmosphere through reforestation, improvement of soils, and other activities.
Methane (CH4): methane is caused as a direct result of the following, agricultural activities, waste management, energy use, and biomass burning all contribute to CH4 emissions. We have seen a rise in awareness around farm animals and their link to methane production, however its not just those who go ‘Moo’ that have caused the issue. When we review the other areas, waste management & biomass it is clear that the way that we deal with food & household waste that is put into large sites and is buried is also creating methane as the substances biodegrade. A clearer message and answers to this needs to be put forward it we are to tackle climate change as a whole and not just Carbon.
Nitrous oxide (N2O): Agricultural activities, such as fertilizer use, are the primary source of N2O emissions. Fossil fuel combustion also generates N2O.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂): these emissions are a major air pollutant. They are closely linked to factory output and vehicles operating on the road. What we saw during covid in the early stages was a clear reduction in the levels of NO2. As both industry and transport come to a halt during this pandemic, NO₂ emissions can be a good indicator of global economic activity. We had satellite imagery showing on heat maps the visible changes from space.
Fluorinated gases (F-gases): Industrial processes, refrigeration, and the use of a variety of consumer products contribute to emissions of F-gases, which include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).