While carbon dioxide is still the top contributor to the ongoing issue of global warming, recent studies have shown that methane gas is a close competitor. Methane is the main constituent of natural gas and is highly flammable. The chemical compound's ability to effectively trap heat is a bad sign for the problem of global warming. Research has shown that methane emissions from fossils fuels are 25-40% larger than we had thought before. To put this into perspective, atmospheric methane has been reported to make up about 25% of the global warming caused by humans today. The heat-trapping properties allow a singular molecule of methane to have a global warming potential that is 20 times greater than carbon dioxide. It can be released naturally in our environment or through human activity and extractions. Huge amounts of methane have been released from oil and gas facilities throughout the US and have continued to leak even after being closed down. Methane has the ability to create a massive impact on global warming in an extremely short amount of time, and we must address this issue before it is out of our control.
WORKS CITED:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/19/world/methane-emissions-humans-fossil-fuels-underestimated-climate-change/index.html
1. In what ways do we contribute to global warming?
2. Do you think that our generation has been taught enough about the severity of this situation?
3. What might be the long term effects of global warming if many of us continue to ignore the issue?
We contribute to global warming in a variety of ways. Burning fossil fuels during the period of industrialization greatly sped up the greenhouse effect. Mining for petroleum and fracking for natural gas has polluted our air, waterways, and lands. Long term effects of global warming due to ignorance includes climate refugees, ice caps melting, water contamination, and eventually extinction. Our generation is in the process of digesting all of this information, whether it's through AP environmental science presentations or inspiring TED talks, our generation is gradually gaining awareness of this huge looming problem.
ReplyDeletewe contribute to global warming by overusing fossil fules and by not caring about our enviroment and treating it badly. we litter and pollute our oceans which spreads to land and it kills the earth yd.
ReplyDeleteLong term effects of global warming are an unhealthy atmosphere, rise in temperature, melting of ice caps, and inevitably extinction. As a result of the ice caps melting, sea levels will rise drastically, resulting in limited land space and potentially wiping out major metropolitan cities. Therefore, we must act now before it is too late.
ReplyDeleteWe contribute to global warming in numerous ways. By polluting, burning fossil fuels, and ignoring signs of climate change, we are contributing to the effects of global warming. Additionally, this issue has many long term effects. These effects include permanent temperature increase, rising water levels, and harsher natural disasters.
ReplyDeleteReplying to question 2, we have definitely been taught enough to be able to understand and perhaps act on the issue of climate change. We've already learned so much about the issue in Mr. Felder's and Aragon has APES. Furthermore, we have others such as Greta Thunberg, who is so young, yet she still managed to put her voice above others. This supports how our generation has been taught more than enough about this issue, and I believe that climate change may get better as the younger generations take charge of the world.
ReplyDeleteHumans contribute to climate change through the use of fossil fuels, pollution, food (meat) production, and more. When we burn fossil fuels in the form of oil, gas, and coal, the CO2 emitted goes into our atmosphere. This acts as greenhouse trapping heat in our atmosphere and not letting the excess reflect into space.
ReplyDeleteHumans are contributing to climate change by the massive use of natural gases, and pollution. The CO2 emissions are then collecting in the atmosphere, which heat up the earth, which then cause ocean/sea levels to rise. Long term effects are the global climate increasing or decreasing large amounts, the rising water; which will decrease livable land, and affect sea life and wildlife going extinct.
ReplyDeleteHumans have a very large contribution to global warming because of how much fossil fuel we burn. A very large portion of our energy is made by burning coal, oil, or natural gas, all of which release greenhouse gases that warm the atmosphere. Our generation has a lot of information about global warming and want to make changes, but unfortunately don't have the power to do that. If this issue is not fixed soon, there will be extreme consequences, such as flooding of coastal areas, worsening air quality, extinction of species, and difficulties with agriculture.
ReplyDeleteI think that humans contribute to global warming in so many ways, burning fossil fuels and mining oil and even things such as driving a car. I think our generation has not been taught how severe this is, we haven't really been told what the problem was and how we could solve it. I think that if many of us just ignore everything and let this go on it will end very terribly. worse then how things are right now.
ReplyDeleteI think that humans contribute to global warming in many ways. We burn fossil fuels, which releases CO2 into the air increasing greenhouse gases. Also, by not composting, compostable materials decompose anaerobically which releases methane. Since methane is more threatening than CO2 in large amounts, composting is a good way to stop climate change. I think that education is crucial to understanding the threat of climate change because it is our generations job to fix our emissions and stop climate change. If the other generations were aware of their emissions, there wouldn't be a climate change problem. If we ignore the issue our planet will become uninhabitable. We can't leave it to future generations because by then it may be too late.
ReplyDeleteHumans are the main contributors to climate change. With planes, cars, farming and deforestation we put out tons of co2 and because we cut down the trees less is taken out of the atmosphere causing global warming. I think we have been taught about it but because no politicians really push it no one really thinks about it that much. I think more education on the problem is needed
ReplyDeleteWe contribute to global warming everyday. From using our cars to burning fossil fuels these actions all add to the ongoing issue. Through fossil fuels we release CO2 into the atmosphere and there is creates a layer that traps most of the heat causing the Earth to warm up. I do not think that our generation has been taught enough about this issue because we are still young and are uneducated in this region of the world's news. However, I do believe that it should be incorporated into our curriculum because it is a very important issue that should be resolved at the root; the new generations.The long terms of global warming are that the glacier might melt and then the oceans will rise causing more flooding in countries around the world. This overall will cause global chaos.
ReplyDeleteHumans are the main contributors to global warming. I think our generation is well educated for how bad the problem is and how much worse it will get. The problem is we do not necessarily have the right technologies developed to permanently solve this problem, but there are already proposed solutions out there. Additionally, people usually have the mindset that this is not our problem to solve because we did not cause it, but this problem is going to affect our generation as well as all the generations after us, and so although we might not be able to do a lot of things to solve this, we need to take more responsibility and be more involved by speaking out.
ReplyDeleteGlobal warming could have serious long term effects if we neglect the issue. First, obviously, the average temperature would rise, melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels. This would destroy coastal cities and in some cases, entire countries. Hundreds of millions of people would be affected, losing trillions of dollars, and we do not have the resources required to deal with that refugee crisis. We would also run out of fossil fuels, and we would likely not have developed alternative fuels, so we will be ill equipped for the situation and enter an energy crisis and likely a depression.
ReplyDeleteHumans are a major factor and contribution to our current global warming issue. We are naturally at a peak of temperature, as it has been alternating between high and low (possibly causing ice ages) over hundreds of thousands of years, yet as humans, our industrialization has greatly increased this spike in average global temperature. I believe our generation has been taught lots about global warming, but currently, it is the political leaders who are older and may not be as educated who need to be taking most of the action. Without immediate actions taken, we may soon reach a point of no return where too much harm has been done to the earth.
ReplyDeleteThe evidence is clear as day. Maybe not a day in China in 2020, but like a day in China in 1700. It is obvious that we are damaging our environment and there are solutions we could pursue. However, the big corporations would lose money if they had to switch to keeping the environment clean, so that evidence gets swamped in denial. It is sad, but there are many alternative brands and companies we can buy from that are beneficial. Like TOMS. They make clothes, shoes, appliances, etc. that are eco-friendly and "woke".
ReplyDeleteOur current society contributes to the release of methane in several different ways, for example, through drilling companies, farting, and other extraction methods. Unfortunately, not many people are aware of the current situation due to it only being brought into the spotlight recently. Awareness efforts have increased a large amount and are taking steps in the right direction. Greta Thunberg did a good job bringing the issue into the public's eye but unfortunately was unable to bring actual change, good effort Greta! People like Greta are what drives the public to being the fight against climate change.
ReplyDeleteWe contribute to global warming in a variety of ways. On Earth, human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO2. To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other human activities has increased concentrations of greenhouse gases. I think that our generation is still processing and learning about the severity of this situation as teachers like Mr. Felder and environmental activists like Al Gore and Greta Thunberg make movements and speeches to spread awareness and take action.
ReplyDeleteIn response to question one, humans contribute to global warming in several ways. Specifically with methane, when trash used by humans ends up in underground landfills it releases methane gas overtime. This contributes to the trapping of heat within Earth's atmosphere, leading to overall temperature increase and the melting of ice caps, resulting in rising sea levels. Personally I think our generation has been educated a great deal on this issue, especially because we have access to information online. However, it's clear that the older generations (aka the boomers) aren't planning on finding a solution anytime soon. This is pretty unsettling, because it seems that older generations are relying on the younger ones to find a solution.
ReplyDeleteI think that the long term effects will be disastrous for the human race. For example, I think that the polar ice caps will completely melt, which will raise the sea level, and as a result, put many coastal cities underwater. The entirety of Earth will become warmer, and there will be more frequent and more severe natural disasters. If we don't act soon, the effects of global warming could be fatal for many people.
ReplyDeleteWe create a lot of these emissions and it has a negative effect on the earth we live on. The green house gases have been a larger factor because in the abundance of them in the atmosphere. I think there is more information out there that our generation doesn't know about and its kind of scary to think how much the earth has changed in the last century up to now. The polar ice caps will melt fully and the large lands of ice will be non-existent. Water levels will rise and the earth will get hotter a lot faster than it does now.
ReplyDeleteI think that our generation has been taught extensively on this issue and we are all very aware that it is an issue, but there is not much known about how to prevent further global warming. Things we have heard from adults are "This is a problem that you are going to have to solve" and "This will affect your generation the most" but no one has said how we are supposed to do that. It seems as if the responsibility is being shifted from generation to generation until one finally steps up and attempts to face this problem head on.
ReplyDeleteWe pollute a lot by using cars and burning fuels. This really atribbutes to the greenhouse effect. I feel that our generation does know the consequences but still chooses to not do enough to help our planet. The water levels will rise and so will temperatures.
ReplyDeleteWe contribute to climate change in our daily lives, whether we are aware of it or not. From driving to work every morning to supporting companies that thrive off of mass deforestation and fossil fuel emissions, much of our economy and society is sustained upon acts that exacerbate pollution.
ReplyDelete