Essay Sample on Carbon Emissions

As our world industrializes further, we are faced with perhaps the foremost problem our civilization has ever faced: the degradation of earth itself. Our forests are becoming smaller, our water sources are drying up, the seasons are now indistinguishable from one other, especially the weather in summer reaching degrees we have never seen before, sea levels rising so high it threatens coastal cities, and our agriculture is under the great threat of drought. So the threat is real, and we feel the effects already. So what do we do? We as individuals can only do so much, since global industrialization is what causes the climate to change on a massive level but by collectively changing our habits, we can help. First, one of the biggest causes of CO2 emissions are from the cows that are grown to produce meat. Livestock are responsible for 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gasses. The farms they are grown in produce mass levels of methane and CO2, contributing to the greenhouse effect. By lowering our consumption of meat in general, we can help these farms to decrease in size. Producing plant-based foods also requires less energy and water, physically takes up less space, and causes less greenhouse emissions. Another way we can help is decrease our consumption in general, and recycling. Producing resources in factories is what really causes carbon emissions. By minimizing our production and reducing, reusing, repairing and recycling we can help a bunch. Buying fewer electronics, clothes and other items and repairing what we have whenever we could, can help a lot. Cars are also another major reason for the high presence of carbon emissions in our atmosphere. Roads all over the world clogged with traffic constantly burning oil and gas contribute to the overwhelming CO2 presence in the air. By using public transport, or cycling and walking helps tremendously to lower that. And if you must use a car, carpooling with other people or switching to an electric car is the best solution. Even though electricity still is produced from fossil fuels, they can help reduce air pollution. Something you can go in your own home is generally using less electricity and energy, and using electricity- efficient appliances, and not using them whenever you can. Air conditioning is one of the biggest evils, since building heating and cooling is one of the things that uses the most energy. Making sure your home is properly insulated, and using electric fans instead in summer would help. Using light bulbs is also a bad idea. LED lights use up 80 percent less energy than conventional light bulbs, and they are also cheaper in the long run. Throwing away less food, wasting less water in the shower and in the sinks, and if you live in an applicable climate, switching to using solar or wind power in your house is also an eligible option. Airplanes also cause significant greenhouse emissions. Taking fewer flights and considering your travel helps, and taking the train instead, whenever you can. But most importantly, the best thing you can do is to talk about the issue. Spreading what you know to other people, and making your voice heard by people in power is the key. Voting in favor of politicians with green policies, who will help fight to get legislation that will help against climate change get into office, joining peaceful protests and marches would all help tremendously! Ultimately, steps to reduce carbon emissions will have a positive impact on other global issues, like improving air quality and public health, creating new jobs and making people’s quality of life better in general.