CO2 emissions have the most significant effect on the environment.

OP-ED By: Maya Carroll

The most significant effect people have on the environment is CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.  In his 2007 Nobel Speech, Al Gore says that “70 million tons of carbon dioxide were emitted today into the atmosphere.” Cars, planes, boats, factories, and fossil fuel burners all contribute to the carbon dioxide in our air today, making the total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere 33.1 billion tons. 

  Who creates carbon dioxide toxic emissions? Every single human on this earth does. How many families do you know that have 1, 2, or even 3 cars? This is probably the case if the families consist of 2 parents and maybe one child that can drive.  These carbon dioxide creating monsters make 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, per car. This assumes the average gasoline vehicle on the road today has a fuel economy of about 22.0 miles per gallon and drives around 11,500 miles per year. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of C02. 

The largest threat of these emissions is the greenhouse effect happening to our earth. That's when excessive CO2 creates a cover that traps the sun's heat in the atmospheric bubble, warming the planet and the oceans. This also causes changes in weather patterns. This is bad because if it got any hotter in cold climates several of the living things there would die off because they aren't used to those conditions. Also, it is already super hot around the equator and if it got any hotter the heat would be unbearable.

In 2014 the United States alone created 15.1 trillion of greenhouse gasses. To reduce your carbon footprint, there are many things you can do.  Find alternatives to driving. Walk or bike to places that are close. Drive a low carbon vehicle, fly in planes less frequently, turn your thermostat lower, install solar panels to your house, or eat locally. These are just a few ideas to slowly decrease your carbon dioxide emissions. Some counterclaims would be that there has always been carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Even though this is true, the levels of carbon dioxide in the air now are up 105 ppmv (Parts-per million by volume), from 1917 to 2017.

As you can tell, carbon emissions are detrimental to the environment. Find something you can do to help save our planet today!