Climate Change Causes and Contributing Factors

Climate change causes primarily stem from greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for 64% of human-caused global warming, with current concentrations 40% higher than pre-industrial levels. While methane (17%) and nitrous oxide (6%) occur in smaller quantities, they trap heat more effectively than CO2.

These greenhouse gases come from various human activities. Industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, transportation, and electricity generation release CO2. Livestock farming, landfills, and wastewater treatment produce methane. Natural carbon sinks like forests and oceans help regulate these gases, but their capacity is diminishing as temperatures rise and deforestation continues.

Plastic pollution represents another significant contributor to climate change. The petroleum-based production of plastics releases greenhouse gases, as does their disposal in landfills or oceans. An estimated 4.8-12.7 million tons of plastic waste enters marine environments annually, creating both environmental and climatic impacts.

Highlight: The three main greenhouse gases driving climate change are:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2): 64% of warming
• Methane (CH4): 17% of warming
• Nitrous oxide (N2O): 6% of warming

Global Climate Action and Solutions

International cooperation is essential for addressing climate change issues. Key agreements like the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and 2015 Paris Agreement established frameworks for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union aims to cut emissions 50-55% by 2030 and 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

The Emissions Trading System (ETS) represents one market-based solution implemented in 2005. This "cap and trade" approach requires companies to purchase allowances for their CO2 emissions, incentivizing transitions to cleaner technologies. When emissions exceed allowances, organizations face financial penalties.

Renewable energy sources offer another crucial pathway for combating climate change. Solar power, captured through photovoltaic cells or thermal systems, provides abundant clean energy for homes and businesses. Wind power, biomass, and other alternatives are also expanding rapidly as costs decrease and efficiency improves.

Example: Solar photovoltaic systems can:

• Generate electricity directly from sunlight
• Power individual buildings or entire neighborhoods
• Store energy in batteries for later use
• Feed excess power back into the electrical grid

Understanding Carbon Trading and Climate Change Impact

The emission trading system, while designed as a market-based solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has become a controversial mechanism in the fight against climate change. Large industrial companies can effectively purchase carbon credits instead of implementing genuine environmental improvements, raising serious questions about the system's effectiveness in addressing climate change issues.

The carbon trading marketplace allows companies like chemical manufacturers to continue their polluting activities by buying credits from others who have reduced their emissions below required levels. While this creates a financial incentive for some businesses to cut emissions, critics argue it enables wealthy polluters to avoid making meaningful operational changes that would benefit the environment.

Definition: Carbon trading is a market-based system where companies can buy and sell permits to emit greenhouse gases, with the total amount of permitted emissions capped by regulators.

This approach to emissions reduction highlights a fundamental tension between economic interests and environmental responsibility. Rather than driving systematic changes in industrial processes and energy usage, carbon trading can function as a loophole that allows business as usual under a veneer of environmental compliance. The system's effectiveness in achieving meaningful climate change consequences reduction remains debated by environmental experts and policymakers.