Emissions
Carbon dioxide
One of the main contributors to global climate change is carbon dioxide (CO2). Once the gas has been released, it remains there for a while making it harder to heat escape. It also warms up the planet.
This is mostly due to the combustion of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, coal, or cement.
As of April 2019, the average monthly CO2 concentration in Earth’s atmosphere was 413 parts per Million (ppm). The concentration was only 280ppm before the Industrial Revolution.
Over the last 800,000.00 years, CO2 concentrations have fluctuated from 180 to 280ppm. However, this has been hugely affected by pollutants caused by humans.
Nitrogen dioxide
It is produced by burning fossil fuels and car exhaust, as well as the use of nitrogen fertilisers in agriculture.
Although NO2 is much less in the atmosphere then CO2, it traps heat 200 to 300 times better than CO2.
Sulfur dioxide
Although sulfur dioxide (SO2) is mainly produced by fossil fuel combustion, it can also come from vehicle exhaust.
Acid rain can be caused by SO2, which reacts with oxygen, water and other chemicals.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an indirect greenhouse gas as it reacts with hydroxyl radicals, removing them. The lifetime of carbon dioxide, as well as other greenhouse gases, is reduced by hydroxyl radicals.
Particulates
What exactly is particulate matter?
Particulate Matter refers to small amounts of liquids and solids in the air.
Some can be easily seen, like dust, while others are invisible.
Particulate matter can contain materials such as soil, metals and microplastics.
The measurement of particulate matter or PM is in micrometres. PM10, which is less than 10 micrometres in diameter, and PM2.5 that are less than 2.5 micrometres each, are the main two.
The burning of fossil fuels, agriculture, cement manufacturing, and other activities can cause air pollution.
Researchers measure particulates levels in the atmosphere by measuring cubic metres.
There are many ways that particulate matter can be released into the atmosphere. These include driving, burning fossil fuels and making steel.
What makes particulates so dangerous?
Because particles less than 10 micrometres wide can penetrate your lungs or get into your bloodstream, they are considered dangerous. Higher concentrations of particles are common in urban areas along roadsides.
Impact on health
Which health issues can pollution lead to?
The World Health Organization states that air pollution can cause a third of all deaths due to strokes, heart disease, and lung cancer.
Although some of the health effects of pollution are still unknown, it is possible that pollution can increase inflammation and narrow the blood vessels leading to strokes or heart attacks.
Air pollution is responsible for almost 10 percent of lung cancers in the UK.
Particulates get trapped in the lungs. This causes inflammation and damages. Some chemicals found in particulates can also cause cancer.
Toxins and pollution cause death
Air pollution is responsible for approximately seven million premature deaths each year. A variety of problems can be caused by pollution, including strokes, asthma attacks and various types of cancers.
Asthma triggers
For a variety of reasons, asthma sufferers can be affected by air pollution. Traffic fumes and pollutants can cause irritation to the airways. Particulates in your lungs can also get in your throat, causing inflammation.
Pregnancy problems
Research in January 2018 suggested that women who are exposed to pollution during pregnancy are almost 20 percent more likely to give birth to babies with defects.
Living within 3.1 miles (5km) of a highly-polluted area one month before conceiving makes women more likely to give birth to babies with defects such as cleft palates or lips, a study by University of Cincinnati found.
Research shows that birth defects increase by 19% for every 0.01mg/m3 rise in fine particles.
According to research, this could be due to women experiencing inflammation and “internal stress”.
What are the current measures taken to combat air pollution
Paris climate agreement
Paris Agreement is an international climate agreement. It was originally signed in 2015.
It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2°C (3.6ºF) ‘and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F)’.
The 2050s will be carbon-neutral
The UK Government has declared plans to become carbon neutral by 2050.
This will be done by planting more trees as well as installing “carbon capture” technology to remove the polluting substances.
Some are afraid that the government will use this option to sell its carbon offsets to other countries.
International carbon credits let nations continue emitting carbon while paying for trees to be planted elsewhere, balancing out their emissions.
By 2040, there will not be any new petrol and diesel cars
The UK government declared in 2017 that new diesel and petrol cars would not be sold by 2030.
However, MPs on the climate change committee have urged the government to bring the ban forward to 2030, as by then they will have an equivalent range and price.
Paris Agreement was signed for the first time in 2015. It is an international treaty to limit and control climate change. Photo: Air pollution in Paris, 2019.
Norway provides subsidies to electric cars
It is due to state subsidy that Norway has been able to electrify its cars quickly. Electric cars can be almost exclusively exempted from heavy taxes on petrol or diesel vehicles, which means they are competitively priced.
A VW Golf standard-combustion engine can cost nearly 334,000 Kroner (34,500 Euros, $38,600), while an electric version, the e-Golf, costs 326,000 Kroner due to a lower rate of tax.
Climate change criticisms
Committee on Climate Change (CCC), has stated that there is an’shockingly’ low level of government preparation for the potential risks posed by climate change.
The committee assessed 33 areas where the risks of climate change had to be addressed – from flood resilience of properties to impacts on farmland and supply chains – and found no real progress in any of them.
The UK is not prepared for 2°C of warming, the level at which countries have pledged to curb temperature rises, let alone a 4°C rise, which is possible if greenhouse gases are not cut globally, the committee said.
The report stated that green space is needed in cities to counter urban heat island effects and prevent flooding from heavy rains.