The environmental impact of carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide comes from two types of sources, natural and anthropogenic. Among the Natural sources of CO2 emission There are animal breathing, fossilization processes, forest fires or volcanic eruptions. Among the Anthropogenic sources of CO2 emission Industrial processes, burnings of waste or waste, burning fossil fuels for obtaining energy, means of transport and other human activities are found. In this other article we tell you more about the main sources of CO2 issuance.

It is the anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide that have not stopped growing in recent decades. Currently, the atmospheric CO2 concentration is around 390-400 ppm (with night-day variations, location and seasonal). Since the end of the 19th century, the rhythm of increase in CO2 emissions has grown and especially from the end of the 20th century, it went from an emission of about 0.5 ppm per year in 1960 to an average of 2 ppm in 2000, a trend that is maintained.

Despite the multiple CO2 emission reduction initiativesas the Kyoto protocol signed in the 1990s, the truth is that carbon dioxide emissions have continued to increase globally, although the least developed countries, despite having 80% of the global population, only contributed 20% of emissions from 1751 to 2007.

It is expected that carbon dioxide emissions will increase up to 130% from the current period to 2050, according to the figures provided by the International Energy Agency, and that there would be 45,000 million dollars to undertake the necessary measures to reduce these emissions by half.

Carbon dioxide is one of the Gases responsible for the greenhouse effect. This effect is the phenomenon by which the heat emitted by the sun is retained within the atmosphere. Some gases, such as carbon dioxide, increase heat retention in the atmosphere and as a consequence they give rise to global overheating.

This global overheating It has consequences in the world climate and in life throughout the planet. While it is known that the weather on our planet is dynamic, in the last century the rhythm of these climatic variations has accelerated, leading to climate change worldwide. One of the causes of this change is an excessive concentration of greenhouse gases. For example, the average global temperature has increased by 0.6 ºC during the twentieth century and it is believed that the increase will be between 1 and 5 ° C in the 21st century or increases the frequency and intensity of the most extreme meteorological phenomena. Climate change is a problem that influences everyone else environmental impacts of CO2.

At the level of the marine medium, this global overheating influences the thaw of the permafrost and the large glacier caps. It is estimated that during the 21st century, sea level will increase between 9 and 88 cm, depending on the location. In addition, erosion and salinization phenomena will increase in coastal areas. Many coral reefs, lose their coloration and die, affecting species that use them in their diet.

Many species will move Towards colder latitudes, looking for those climates for which they are better adapted. Despite this, animal or plant species, which have less capacity to move, that are not able to adapt, They will die or extinguish. In addition, thawing phenomena also influence the death and extinction of many species or water acidification. Another consequence is that many animal species change their migratory routes, in the search for food or in their trophic chains.

Recently, it has been seen that plants increase their growth as the CO2 concentration increases. However, at very high levels of CO2, saturation of the photosynthetic device is greater, so growth does not increase or even decreases. Although it is not a totally proven phenomenon.

We want to end this article commenting on the current situation of the city of Madrid, because in recent years the CO2 pollution In this place it has increased a lot and even a “beret” that covers the city has appeared.

Why carbon dioxide is one of the most polluting gases

Carbon dioxide has a very important participation in global warming, since it is capable of absorbing infrared light that comes from the sun. Carbon dioxide is the second atmospheric gas in importance in the greenhouse effect. In addition, when absorbed in the water form carbonic acid (H2CO3), harming various ecosystems, such as coral reefs.

Main causes of the increase in CO2 emissions and sources

The main causes of the increase in CO2 emissions are human activities. Having increased the world population, energy requirements are increasing, which occur mainly due to the use of fossil fuels, which produce important emissions. The second activity that produces the most emissions is transport and then there are others such as livestock or agriculture that also contribute.

Although there are several activities that produce carbon dioxide, the vast majority of carbon dioxide emissions are generated due to the way we produce and use energy. Therefore, in the coming years it is essential to go to clean energy sources that replace fossil fuels.

Consequences that forests and parks disappear

The Retiro Park and the Casa de Campo represent two of the large and important green areas of Madrid. Green areas regulate temperature and moisture, generate oxygen, absorb pollutants such as CO2, cushion noise and filter radiation. The loss of the forests of these two important green areas of the city would have important environmental consequences for the city of Madrid, noticing less globally but, in the end, they would also add a good negative impact to the problem that is worldwide.

Why it is difficult to reduce enough CO2

Although carbon dioxide emissions can decrease, such as a very common gas, there are many natural phenomena such as fires or volcanic eruptions that can release large amounts of CO2 to the medium. In addition, the absorption capacity of CO2 on our planet is also important, exercised mainly by vegetation, so activities such as deforestation are very harmful in this regard.

Measures to reduce CO2 issuance in Madrid

The measures taken by the Madrid City Council, such as Madrid Central, are necessary measures, but will not solve the pollution problem. Poor air quality is a very complex matter to solve it only with a partial measure that affects only a small part of the city. As much as traffic in the center is reduced, traffic of the ringms and accesses to Madrid will continue to affect the entire city.

There are six large blocks of measures that can be taken in a city like Madrid to reduce pollution. Among these are:

• Executing improvement plans in metropolitan areas: more than half of Madrid’s traffic comes from outside the municipality.
• Improvements in public transport
• Reducing the number of cars: Madrid Central is one of the measures, but there are others such as urban tolls.
• Promote a change to less polluting vehicles: especially among those that circulate the most and produce more pollution, which are taxis and cast vans.

The contamination beret of Madrid

The so -called Bina that covers Madrid is formed by polluting gases and suspended particles. These are issued by various sectors such as industry, transport, agriculture, construction or heating, among others. Although in winter, the emission of pollutants usually increases, the presence of rains and wind ‘clean’, while it is with anticyclonic time when this beret can be seen more clearly. In large cities it is more common to see these berets due to the height of its buildings, narrow streets and overpopulation.

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