| CO2 Pollution and Global Warming | | | | measure to try and reduce the amount of |
| Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed | | | | carsentering central London uk a congestion |
| of one carbon andtwo oxygen atoms and is | | | | charge was brought about andin one year a |
| known as co2. Carbon dioxide was one ofthe first | | | | 38-percent drop in private cars entering London |
| gases to be described as a substance distinct | | | | was recordedwhichwas twice the anticipated |
| from airand is present in a low concentration in | | | | figure. |
| the Earth's atmosphere. | | | | Countries |
| But when does carbon dioxide become a | | | | A study found that in 2004, emissions from |
| pollutant? | | | | developing economiesmade up 73 per cent of the |
| CO2 emissions are increasing faster than | | | | global growth in emissions ― largely dueto |
| expected and carbondioxide emissions from fossil | | | | moving energy-intensive activities from developed |
| fuels have acceleratedglobally at a far greater | | | | to developingcountries. As countries undergo |
| rate than expected over recent years. | | | | industrial development, they movethrough a |
| Atmosphere | | | | period of intensive, and often inefficient, use of |
| Carbon Synthesis:The ocean plays an important | | | | fossilfuel. The United States, the world's top |
| role inregulating the amount of CO2 in the | | | | carbon dioxide emitter, in |
| atmosphere and inregulating climate variability and | | | | 2001 pulled out of the pact that requires |
| the impact that humanshave on the global | | | | developing countries to cutemissions by an |
| environment. Currently, burning fossilfuels emits | | | | average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. |
| just over 7 billion tonnes of CO2 (GtC) into | | | | Greenhouse |
| theatmosphere each year. The Southern Ocean | | | | How much CO2 and other greenhouse gasses |
| has been absorbingless CO2 from the atmosphere | | | | (CO2e) do your activities create. |
| since 1981, even though levelshave increased 40 | | | | Cities are responsible for three-quarters of the |
| percent due to the burning of fossil fuels. | | | | world's energy consumptionas well as about 80 |
| Greenhouse gases have also changed the | | | | percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that |
| temperature structureof the atmosphere, and | | | | contributeto global warming and play a critical role |
| climate models show that these changesalso | | | | in the reversal of dangerousclimate change. There |
| strengthen the westerly winds over the Southern | | | | is strong evidence that human emissions |
| Ocean. | | | | ofgreenhouse gases are changing the world's |
| As the surface becomes more saturated with | | | | climate. We know that CO2 is agreenhouse gas |
| CO2,it absorbs less and less from the atmosphere | | | | because it absorbs and emits certain frequencies |
| and once in theatmosphere, most of the carbon | | | | of infraredradiation. What is more, CO2 is just one |
| dioxide stays there for 50 to | | | | of several greenhouses gases,and greenhouse |
| 200 years, and some of it stays there indefinitely. | | | | gases are just one of many factors affecting the |
| Carbon | | | | climate. |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, the | | | | Models suggest that rising greenhouse gases, |
| principal driverof climate change, have accelerated | | | | including CO2, explains about |
| globally at a far greater ratethan expected over | | | | 40% of the warming as the ice ages ended. |
| recent years according to a paper recently | | | | Conclusion |
| publishedin the Proceedings of the National | | | | Are you ready to act on CO2. This latest period |
| Academy of Sciences. | | | | of warming is largelycaused by the accumulation |
| Cars | | | | of CO2 in the atmosphere. Today, CO2 levelsare |
| Cars are an important part of the everyday lives | | | | higher than at any time in at least the past |
| of a large numberof Europeans however cars | | | | 650,000 years because ofincreased fossil fuel |
| account for 10% of total European emissions | | | | burning. |
| ofcarbon dioxide (CO2) the principal greenhouse | | | | The future of the world is in the hands of each |
| gas responsible forglobal warming. Nearly a | | | | and everyone of us and itis up to every individual |
| quarter of all car journeys are less than | | | | to make their contribution to reducing co2 |
| 2 miles and cars consume most fuel at the start | | | | andreducing their own carbon footprint. |
| of their journey whenthe engine is cold. As a | | | | |