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During a 2014 Climate Summit, the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon stated, “Climate change has happened because of human behavior, therefore it’s only natural it should be us, human beings, to address the issue.” It may not be too late if we take the decisive actions today. Ban Ki-Moon gave this speech 5 years ago and his words are just as true in 2019. It is our responsibility to limit our gas emissions and air pollution while we still can try to halt global warming. Our global thermostat has already risen 1°C since pre-industrial times and it is expected to rise to 1.5°C or 2.0°C within the next 50 years if we do not change our ways. If that happens, our children and grandchildren will experience a different earth than we have. With the implementation of cleaner gasoline and green energy sources as well as use of electric and hybrid cars, gas pollution can be reduced. We need to make a change now to leave this earth better for our descendants.
Scientists have almost unanimously agreed that once our global temperature reaches past a 2°C rise from our pre-industrial temperature that the environmental consequences would be irreversible. An article from CBS News states, “U.N. and U.K. climate analysts recently concluded that the Earth has already warmed by 1 degree Celsius, with 2015 the hottest year ever recorded.” This leaves us with a margin of 1°C before we damage the earth permanently. We are expected to rise at least half a degree or more very soon if we do not take immediate action. In a rise of 0.5°C, around 14% of the world population will be exposed to extreme heat waves. However, in a rise of 1°C, almost 37% of the world will experience life-threatening
temperatures, especially in the topics. This would lead to droughts and water scarcity to millions of people, especially in already water-insecure locations. The arctic will start melting at exponentially increasing rates which will cause the sea levels to rise. Island nations and coastal areas will erode and then flood and then disappear completely into the ocean if the sea levels rise enough. The full scope of global warming extends further and is more encompassing than scientists can predict. However, it is undeniable that we are seeing the effects of climate change already.
One crucial step that we can take to combat climate change is reducing gas emissions from vehicles. When gasoline is used in combustion, which powers vehicles, it yields byproducts that are harmful to earth’s ozone layer and that contribute to air pollution. The major chemical reaction that occurs in a combustible engine consists of octane, one of the main components of asoline, mixed with oxygen and exposed to heat.
2C8H18 + 25O2 → 16CO2 + 18H2O
Notice that water vapor and carbon dioxide, CO2, is a byproduct in the combustion reaction. Because gasoline is not solely made of octane there are other gases produced during combustion such as, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and unburned hydrocarbons. All of these substances contribute to air pollution and are greenhouse gases.
The greenhouse effect keeps the surface of the Earth at a consistent temperature which supports life. The Sun’s radiation streams through the atmosphere to come to the Earth’s crust but reflects back some light into outer space. In the same manner, most greenhouse gases and infrared radiation that is emitted from Earth pass through the atmosphere, but some is reflected back and is trapped in-between the surface and the atmosphere. The more greenhouse gas we produce, the more that is unable to breach the atmosphere and is circulated between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. This effect that is supposed to keep the earth at a life-sustaining temperature is slowly killing it. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States used about 392 million gallons of gasoline each day in 2017. This includes gas used in cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats, and other mechanical equipment. Gasoline emissions make up about 1/5 of the total United States’ global warming contribution, but we can combat that by finding ways to limit the use of gasoline or by using cleaner gasoline. Currently, scientists are studying ways to create fully electric vehicles, using solar energy to power cars, and engineering biofuels that reduce gas emissions.
Electric vehicles are powered only by electricity, which can mean it runs on fully sustainable and renewable resources. Even though there are no direct gasoline emissions through combustion, electric vehicles still produce around 4,450 pounds of CO2. However, that is still less than one-half the emissions from a traditional, gasoline-powered car. The way that the electricity is generated to charge the vehicle can affect how much greenhouse gas is given off indirectly by powering it. Most of the United States uses natural gas for electricity, but some locations are powered by coal still, even though it is known to be one of the worst fuels for the environment.
To reduce gas emissions even further than just using an electric car, solar panels can be installed at home to charge the car. The technology for harnessing solar power is still being researched and it is only in its infancy, but home-based solar charging can power an electric vehicle for short trips. The first fully solar-powered car, nicknamed Stella, was created in 2014 to show Americans that it is possible to use the Sun’s energy as a substitute for gasoline. Electric cars are steadily becoming more available to the general public and are a viable option to reduce gas emissions from vehicles.
Replacing all the vehicles that use gasoline with electric vehicles is a potential solution to the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions. However, scientists are also looking into alternative fuels such as biodiesel, hydrogen, and natural gas. Biodiesel is made from recycled grease and vegetable oils as well assome kinds of animal fats. It is incorporated into fuel and the vehicles’ gas emissions drop with the increase of the percentage of biodiesel in the fuel. As you can see from Figure 2, the amount of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matter (PM) all decrease steadily when the amount of biodiesel used in the fuel rises. However, the use of biodiesel does increase the amount of nitrogen oxides in the air (NOx).
Another type of fuel that is rising in popularity is hydrogen used in fuel cell electric vehicles. Just like with other electric vehicles, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from these cars depend on the sources of hydrogen they use. Hydrogen can be used in a traditional combustion engine and it does reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced when compared to gasoline. However, when used in a fuel cell vehicle, they give off no direct gas emissions, just like with electric vehicles.
Natural gas is increasingly common as an easily available source of fuel that limits greenhouse gas emissions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets rules for fuel providers and for vehicles demanding that they restrict gas emissions. Natural gas is one of the easiest additions to gasoline to lower the gas emissions from the vehicle. There is ever evolving legislation being written in the United States that helps reduce the amount of gas emissions like the Clean Air Act, first passed by the EPA in 1970. This bill worked towards removing lead in gasoline, reducing the risks of gasoline leaks in gas stations and pipelines, and supplying gasoline that has little to no sulfur in it. The United States only plays a small part in reducing gas emissions that affect the Earth; every country needs to pass laws and conduct research that support the fight to reduce global warming before it rises to the critical 2°C level.
In an effort to rally the countries of the world together to set goals for reducing actions that contribute to global warming, the Paris Climate Conference was held in September of 2018 by the United Nations. The purpose of these summits is to celebrate achievements of countries reaching their set goals for reducing contributions to climate change, put into place new action plans for each country, and give and receive aid when necessary. The graph below, Figure 3, shows what would happen if no action is taken to limit our gas emissions. We would reach an estimated 4.2°C above the global temperature of our pre-industrial Earth. Even if each country meets their goal, the Earth will still warm above the 2°C point by mid-century. This shows that not only the United States needs to work harder the advance technology and cut back gasoline emissions immediately, but the entire world needs to do the same. Our dependence on gasoline as the primary power source for American vehicles needs to end soon or the Earth will face dire climate and environmental changes. There are great strides being made in technology and research into alternate fuels and electric and solar powered vehicles. Every person who makes the switch from driving traditional combustion engine vehicles to one that emits less greenhouse gases, whether it be an electric vehicle or using alternative fuels, plays a crucial role in limiting climate change.
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