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PROBLEMA
molécula 3D do dióxido de carbono At room temperature, carbon dioxide (CO2) is coreless and odorless gas. Every time we exhale some carbon dioxide molecules leaves our bodies and become part of the atmosphere. CO2 molecules contain a single carbon atom flanked by two oxygen atoms, such that the molecule is linear. Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases prevent the Earth from losing all the energy absorbed from the sun, making the Earth temperature the ideal for the existence of life. Although the large emissions of the greenhouse gases through the atmosphere are leading to global warming and its gradually worsening effects.

CO2 emissions can have natural or human sources. Oceans are the large natural source of CO2 emission through the atmosphere, although animals, plants, the decomposition of organic matter and natural disasters, like volcanic eruptions, also contributes in a natural way for the CO2 emissions. . 

Comparison of greenhouse gas emissions by emission source. Image from The Conversation.

The combustions of fossil fuels since the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century has added a significant amount of CO2 gases to the atmosphere. Nowadays the combustion of fossil fuels and the transportation sector are the activities that more CO2 emits to the atmosphere. The energy released in the combustion of fossil fuels is, normally transformed in heat or electricity. The industry sector, that includes the manufacture, agriculture, and the construction also have a high rate of CO2 emissions.

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Forests and oceans absorb the almost equal amount of the total CO2 emitted, and the rest remains in the atmosphere. There are two major effects of carbon dioxide emissions:

  • The increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, that results in the temperature rise;;
  • The increase in the absorption of CO2 by oceans and plants, that causes ocean acidification and carbon fertilization.

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Like we already said, the CO2 is the gas that most contributes to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse gases work like a gas curtain fromEarth surface through the atmosphere. It prevents the Earth from losing all the energy received from the sun goes back to space again. Some of that energy stays trapped, as heat, and makes that our temperature medium be 15 ºC. Without the greenhouse effect the life on Earth would be impossible.

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image adapted from APROBIO (Associação dos Produtores de Biodiesel do Brasil)

The greenhouse effects only gain a bad meaning when the emissions of the greenhouse through the atmosphere are higher than our atmosphere can support, so the remaining energy is enough to cause climate changes. 

The climate changes encompass global warming and its side effects like ocean heating, the thaw that makes de sea levels rise and the changes in climate patterns like extreme climate events.  

All these catastrophes are irreversibly changing our planet and the reduction of the greenhouse gases emissions are extremely important. The Kyoto protocol is an international agreement, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding greenhouse gases emission reduction targets, between the years 2005 and 2020. Recently The Paris agreement predicts a 45% and 100% decrease in the greenhouse gases emissions until the years 2030 and 2055, respectively.

In addition to all institutional efforts, it’s also necessary to adopt attitudes and practices that allowed the reductions of the greenhouse effect. We leave you some tips:

  • Save energy – Don’t leave the lights on unnecessarily and remove electrical appliances from the electrical outlets when they are not in use.
  • Give preference to public transports or alternative transports, like bicycles.
  • Recycle and reduce packaging consumption - By recycling, you reduce the use of new non-renewable resources, and the amount of waste in landfills will be lower.

References

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