TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING
Carbon dioxide is an important gas in our atmosphere. It is made up of 1 carbon atom (represented by the chemical symbol "C") and 2 oxygen atoms ("O") bonded together, giving it the name CO2. Carbon dioxide is an essential and useful gas in everyday life on planet Earth, but there is now so much of it in our atmosphere that scientists have raised the alarm.
According to scientists, in April 2014, for the first time, CO2 concentration in the atmosphere exceeded 400 parts per million (ppm) in the northern hemisphere. This means that there are 400 grams of CO2 in every one million grams of air.
Smoke stacks from energy plants giving out thick fumes of greenhouse gases. Flickr user Dawn Ellner
A chief meteorologist said,
"This should serve as yet another wakeup call about the constantly rising levels of greenhouse gases which are driving climate change. If we are to preserve our planet for future generations, we need urgent action to curb new emissions of these heat-trapping gases. Time is running out."
Burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum is mainly responsible for the increasing levels of greenhouse gases. CO2 is one of the main greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. CO2 also gets dissolved in oceans and causes oceans to become more acidic. CO2 stays locked in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and even longer in oceans.
Countries are urged to burn less fossil fuels and use alternative energy sources such as solar power and wind power. These are much cleaner energy sources that produce a lot less greenhouse gases.
Solar panels capture energy from the sun to produce electricity. Solar energy is a much cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels.Image by AFP PHOTO/Don Emmert
Uses of carbon dioxide CO2 is not all bad. It is used by plants to make food and oxygen. It is also used in many processes such as bread baking, production of soft drinks, refrigeration and extinguishing fires. But there is way too much CO2 in the atmosphere than we need, and it is harming instead of helping the Earth.
How you can help 1. CO2 is released when fossil fuel is burned to produce electricity. If you use less electricity, less fossil fuel will be burned. So remember to turn off your electrical appliances when you are not using them. Try to use the fan instead of air conditioners.
2. Ride public transport like subways and buses so that there will be fewer vehicles on the road that produce greenhouse gases.
3. Reduce the amount of waste you produce. Buy products that don't have a lot of packaging. Instead of buying something you won't use very often, try to borrow it from someone else.
4. Reuse Instead of throwing things away, find ways to use them again. Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags to carry things you buy from the store. Use biscuit tins to contain your pencils instead of throwing them away. Use writing paper on both sides.
What a brilliant and pretty idea! This curtain is made of used bottle tops. Flickr user Alpha.
5. Recycle
Paper bags, soda cans and milk cartons can all be recycled. Recyclable materials can be processed so that they can be made into new things. Place your recyclable trash into special bins so that they can be taken away by the recycling truck if your city has a recycling service. Or you can ask your parents to help take them to recycling centres in your neighbourhood.
Throw your recyclable trash into these bins. Flickr user epSOS.de.
Our planet needs help right now. We need to take action to help our Earth. Find out how global warming affects our planet by clicking here.
What other ways can you think of to reduce, reuse and recycle so that less greenhouse gases are produced? Share your ideas by typing them in the box below.
Featured image credit: Flickr user Senor Codo
