Since 1880, the world's mean sea levels have risen by 21-24cm with around a third of that, just coming in the last 25 years. Between 1992-2001, Greenland lost 34 billion tons of ice, but between 2012-2016, they have lost 247 billion tons of Ice. The cause for such issues is the evidently ignorant behaviour of human beings. Without the outcome and impact of our acts being carefully evaluated, with emphasis on the environment, humans have time and time proven that they will become the cause for their own destruction.
The result of humans' actions have lead to the prevalent issue of global warming, with more than 36.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere in 2019. Its time now, to discuss the improvement and detoriation of the 2019 statistics.
The Improvement
Only a 0.6% rise in industrial emission compared to 2018's 2.1%.
Coal emission declined by 0.9%, however this was offset by the use of oil and natural gas.
Since 2010's, carbon emission have grown by 0.9%, much lower than the 2000's 3.0%
India's emissions grew by just 1.8% even as it countered poverty for hundreds of millions, much lower than 2018's 8%
The European Union cut back 1/5th of its coal power, declining emissions by 1.7%
The United States of America has declined 1.7% of its carbon emissions
The Deterioration
A few major groups account for a majority of carbon emissions :
China : 26% of world's carbon emissions
USA : 14% of world's carbon emissions
European Union : 9% of world's carbon emissions
India : 7% of world's carbon emissions
2.6% growth in carbon emissions in China
Natural gas has become the largest source for emission growth in the past few years
Natural gas is now the largest provider of electricity in the United States
2019 set a new record as year with highest emissions
In regards to natural gas : Natural gas is considered a cleaner fuel ,however , it still does cause carbon emission and isn't 'healthy; for the environment. “Natural gas may produce fewer carbon emissions than coal, but that just means you cook the planet a bit more slowly,”
Natural gas also has the nearly unavoidable circumstance of leaking, which warms up the planet 80 times more than carbon emission. However, all in all, the switch from coal to natural gas has been much more friendly towards the environment.
As the issue of global warming is being worked on to counter the melting of polar ice caps, everyday citizens must work non reducing carbon footprints. With newer government incentives on electric vehicles, renewable energy and cheaper public transport, humans must realise the requirement to make such changes.
It is estimated that if all the ice in the world was to melt, sea levels would rise by 70 meters and submerge each and every coastal city, and whole island nations. 8 out of 10 of the largest cities are all coastal and vulnerable to rise in sea levels. We must take action to prevent global warming and reduce the melting of glaciers. Governments must introduce more laws, policies, incentives to those using cleaner, environment friendly resources.
Till Next Time,
~Nehal Singhal
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