Burning of Fossil Fuels: A Major Cause of Global Warming
Global warming is a phenomenon that cannot be avoided at the present moment. The increase in temperature on the surface and atmospheric spaces of the Earth is a problem that started in the late 19th century, right before the pre-industrial era. Ever since then, the estimated growth of worldwide temperature has been about 1 degrees Celsius, with the rapid growth of 0.2 degrees Celsius every decade. To better understand and recognize how to find the right resolution for this issue, it is integral to understand who are the major drivers of global warming. The following essay will focus on highlighting how the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural activities are the reasons and the major drivers of global warming.
One of the first human causes of Global Warming is the increase in burning fossil fuels. Since the early Industrial Revolution Industries have utilized fossil fuels as the main component that has powered their production and operations [1]. With the burning of these fossil fuels, a huge amount of greenhouse gas is excreted within the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases hold the ability to trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere, directly increasing the temperature. In the year 2018, about 89% of the global carbon dioxide emission came through fossil fuels along with industries which were accompanied by factors like driving off fuel-based vehicles and operations of heavy industrial machinery when is the burning of solid Municipal waste increased the greenhouse emission. Further proving the point of how it has contributed at large to global warming.
The other human activity which has played a prominent role in the increase in global warming is deforestation. The rapid cutting down of trees to create more settlement space and to utilize the use of wood and other materials that people can accumulate through these plants and trees has led to rapid growth in deforestation. Tropical forests and other forms of green plants can use atmospheric carbon dioxide to create their food through the process of photosynthesis. Other than that, the fact that when this carbon dioxide which is stored within plants remains in excess and not utilized by the plant in the conversion of their food. Most of this collected carbon dioxide is stored within the stems and branches for sequestration. These excess collected carbon dioxide often gets released during the process of deforestation within the environment. With the lack of proper plantations that can help utilize excess carbon dioxide, there is a higher level of increase prominent in the current atmosphere. As per proper data, it has been believed that carbon dioxide emissions through deforestation are responsible for almost 10% of global warming. Further proving the point of how it plays a crucial role in creating global warming.
The third and final human cause of global warming could be agriculture. Agricultural production is responsible for the emission of almost 29% of total global greenhouse gases. Among these, livestock, farming is primarily responsible for the release of Methane Gas produced from the process of digestion and enteric fermentation within the environment [2]. Apart from that, the utilization of nitrogenous fertilizers has also played a crucial role in creating the release of nitrous oxide Greenhouse gases within the atmosphere, further increasing carbon emissions. Agriculture in many ways become a prime reason behind global warming.
Conclusion
It can further be stated that the burning of fossil fuels along with deforestation and unsustainable forms of agricultural activities are the primary drivers of global warming. Over the years, these three primary factors in their own way have impacted the atmospheric balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen and have led the planet to a point where prominent temperature increases are unavoidable.
References
(1) Letcher, T. Why Do We Have Global Warming?. Managing Global Warming 2019, 3-15.
(2) Al-Ghussain, L. Global Warming: Review On Driving Forces And Mitigation. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2018, 38, 13-21.