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| Over the last 100 years global mean surface temperatures have risen by almost 1 degree. Many argue that this increase in temperature has been due to the combustion of fossil fuels, primarily for the purposes of energy production. Deforestation has also contributed to this as the destruction of these rainforests mean that too much Carbon Dioxide is present in earth’s atmosphere. The combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation which has taken placed over the past 100 years has lead to an imbalance in the carbon cycle. This in balance in carbon in the atmosphere has then lead to creating the greenhouse effect, also known as global warming. |
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| What are fossil fuels? - Fossil Fuels are made up of plant and animal matter that has died and then decomposed under millions of year’s worth of earth. This majority of this decomposed plant and animal matter can now be found in the three most common forms which are; Coal, Oil and Natural Gas. |
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Coal - Coal is a messy, hard, black substance which has been traditionally used in the heating f our homes and to power coal fired power stations. Formed from decomposed plant matter, it is protected by water and mud meaning protection is given from biodegradation, therefore the carbon is trapped in the ground from this plant matter. The burning of coal subsequently releases carbon into the atmosphere. |
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| Oil - Black and thick oil is found far beneath the earth’s surface. Oil is used for various reasons, the most common being for the production of fuel for transportation. Using giant pipelines, oil is extracted from many miles beneath the earth’s surface, meaning the extraction of oil from reservoirs below the sea is made possible. |
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| Natural Gas - Natural Gas is an invisible substance which is made up mostly from a chemical called methane. Natural Gas caps the top of oil reservoirs beneath the earth’s surface so therefore gas extraction pipes are not placed as far beneath the surface as oil extraction pipes. Gas can be very dangerous to human health and is invisible to the human eye, so therefore natural gas is mixed with smelly chemicals to make any leaks noticeable. |
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| Carbon Cycle - Every living thing is made up of carbon. Carbon is present within the oceans, air and even rocks. As carbon is a dynamic element, it does not stay still and moves around the earth, this is known as the carbon cycle. In Earth’s atmosphere carbon attaches to the oxygen in the air so then comes to form Carbon Dioxide. |
| Along with sunlight, plants use carbon dioxide to make their own food and grow, this process is known as photosynthesis. Therefore carbon which is still present within a plant as it dies is taken down beneath the earth’s surface and stored in fossil fuels. This means that when a fossil fuel is burned it releases carbon into the air which creates carbon dioxide. |
Carbon Dioxide is a gas which traps heat in the atmosphere, meaning it prevents the sun’s rays to escape from the planet causing a build up of heat. It is estimated that there is now 30% more Carbon Dioxide present in the earth’s atmosphere then there was 100 years ago, this trend is ever increasing and shows us the challenge we face in producing less carbon dioxide.
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| For more information on World Environment Day, visit the UNEP website. |
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