Carbon Emissions

Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

CARBON EMISSIONS:
THE DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE ROLE
OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE
ENVIRONMENT

Presentation by:
Melody Mai Galman
BSCE - 2C
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

PRESENTATION CONTENTS
IMPACTS OF
01 CARBON DIOXIDE
AS EARTH’S FRIEND
05 CARBON EMISSIONS

CARBON DIOXIDE AS HOW TO REDUCE

02 EARTH’S ENEMY
06 CARBON EMISSIONS?

HUMAN AND HOW COMPANIES REDUCE

03 CARBON EMISSIONS
07 CARBON EMISSIONS?

SOURCES OF PROOF THAT WE CAN

04 CARBON EMISSIONS
08 MAKE A CHANGE
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

CARBON DIOXIDE AS
EARTH’S FRIEND
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a pivotal component of the
Earth’s atmosphere. It is a greenhouse gas responsible
for absorbing and trapping heat in the atmosphere.

According to Lindsey (2023), the Earth’s natural

greenhouse effect is incapable of sustaining the average
total global surface temperature without carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide played a crucial role during the Ice Age

which started from shedding rays of sunlight in the
Throughout the early years, Northern Hemisphere that periodically warmed the
greenhouse gases eventually Earth’s temperature.
made the Earth's climate
habitable for humans and
millions of other species.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

CARBON DIOXIDE AS
EARTH’S ENEMY
According to Schleeter (2023), the stability of CO2 levels
in the atmosphere at an estimated 280 parts per million
(ppm) lasted for thousands of years.

In the 18th century, the rise of the Industrial Revolution

marked the significant contribution of human activities
in increasing the atmospheric CO2 by 50%.

Today, the amount of greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere is rising at an alarming rate.

In a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Carbon dioxide

(NOOA) research conducted by Kiest (2022), about two- concentrations result in the
thirds of the warming influenced by humans is caused climate change we experience
by carbon dioxide alone in 2021. today and potentially
threaten the Earth’s climate
into an inhabitable one.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

HUMANS AND
CARBON EMISSIONS
Over the last 150 years, human activities have
been responsible for the major increase in
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere primarily due
to the exploitation of fossil fuels.

According to Ritchie & Roser (2020), the demand

for prosperity is what drives the continuous
increase in carbon emissions today.

At the expense of modernization and development,

the environment is unfortunately at a cost.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

SOURCES OF CARBON EMISSIONS

01 TRANSPORTATION
COMMERCIAL
04 AND RESIDENTIAL
ELECTRICITY
02 PRODUCTION
05 AGRICULTURE

03 INDUSTRY
 Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

TRANSPORTATION
Vehicles such as cars, trains, and airplanes use over 94% of fuel for
transportation which produces the largest share of greenhouse gas
emissions.

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION
Electricity produces energy in which 60% of it comes from burning
coal and natural gas.

INDUSTRY
Industries account for a larger use of energy from manufacturing
processes of goods and services.
 Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

COMMERCIAL
AND RESIDENTIAL
Appliance use is the major cause for commercial and residential
such as refrigerators and air conditioning that hold
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are harmful to the atmosphere.

AGRICULTURE
The cultivation of crops, soil, and livestock releases methane which
also adds to greenhouse gas emissions.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

IMPACTS OF 01 PLANTS

CARBON
EMISSIONS 02 ANIMALS

The continuous climb of carbon emissions gravely

affects the planet. It fuels global warming, thus
exacerbating climate change.
03 HUMANS
 Carbon Emissions

PLANTS
Environmentally, global shifts in climate driven by the accumulation
of carbon emissions cause extreme weather events such as heat
waves, severe droughts, and wildfires. Such events make plants and
crops unable to survive.

ANIMALS
Animals experience a loss of natural habitat as climate change
alters the environment.

HUMANS
The rising temperature causes humans to be subjected to multiple
health concerns such as respiratory and skin diseases. The burning
sensation of sunlight today is one of the most observable issues.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

HOW TO REDUCE
CARBON EMISSIONS
1. Choosing responsible consumption, based on local
products and sustainable production.
2. Using sustainable means of transport, such as public
transport, bicycle, or on foot, and buying
environmentally friendly vehicles.
3. Choosing a 100 % renewable energy consumption,
buying energy-saving appliances, and controlling
heating and air conditioning to save energy.
4. Increasing awareness and sharing the importance of
We can create reducing the carbon footprint.
transformational action as 5. Reducing waste by reusing one’s packaging, recycling it
an individual. Applying and if not possible, disposing it in the appropriate
sustainable practices in
container.
one’s daily activities
contributes a lot to fulfilling
a decarbonized economy.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

HOW COMPANIES
REDUCE CARBON
EMISSIONS
1. Enhancing energy efficiency
2. Adopting 100% renewable energy sources
3. Launching awareness campaigns
4. Investing in environmental initiatives
5. Paying eco-friendly taxes
6. Purchasing carbon offsets on the
international emissions market. Currently, a growing
number of companies
are incorporating ways
to achieve carbon
neutrality.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

PROOF THAT WE CAN

MAKE A CHANGE
The positive shift of atmospheric CO2 during the COVID-
19 pandemic demonstrates solid evidence of the impact
of one’s transformational action.

In a study by Friedlingstein et al. (2020), as cited by

Ronaghi & Scorsone (2023), CO2 emissions during the
pandemic fell in various sectors: 75% decrease in air
transport, 50% in surface transport, 15% in electricity
generation and 35% in industries.
Prioritizing carbon emissions
the same way we prioritized
the pandemic before can
allow us to befriend carbon
dioxide levels once again.
 Carbon Emissions
Environmental Engineering | CVE 213

THANK YOU
“We all have a choice. We can create transformational action that will
safeguard the living conditions for future generations, or we can continue with
our business as usual and fail.”
– Greta Thunberg
REFERENCES
Iberdrola. (2021, April 22). CARBON FOOTPRINT. Iberdrola; Iberdrola. https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/carbon-footprint

Kiest, K. (2022, May 24). Greenhouse gas pollution trapped 49% more heat in 2021 than in 1990, NOAA finds - NOAA Research.
NOAA Research. https://research.noaa.gov/2022/05/23/greenhouse-gas-pollution-trapped-49-more-heat-in-2021-than-in-1990-noaa-
finds/

Lindsey, R. (2023). Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. NOAA Climate.gov. https://www.climate.gov/news-
features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide

Mann, M. (2024, March 7). Greenhouse gas | Definition, Emissions, & Greenhouse Effect | Britannica. In Encyclopædia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas

Marzieh Ronaghi, & Scorsone, E. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on CO2 Emissions in the Ten Countries with the Highest
Carbon Dioxide Emissions. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2023, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4605206

NASA. (2023, August 15). Carbon Dioxide Concentration | NASA Global Climate Change. Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.
https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/
REFERENCES
Nunez, C. (2019, May 13). Carbon dioxide levels are at a record high. Here’s what you need to know. Environment.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/greenhouse-gases

Osmanski, S. (2020, March 30). How Do Carbon Emissions Affect the Environment? Green Matters; Green Matters.
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/how-do-carbon-emissions-affect-environment

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2024, January 22). CO2 emissions. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions

Schleeter, R. (2023). Global Carbon Emissions. Nationalgeographic.org.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/global-co2-emissions/

Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions | US EPA. (2024, February 24). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-
greenhouse-gas-emissions

Sustaina Greens LLP. (2023, December 3). Reducing Your Carbon Footprint in Daily Life: Small Changes, Big Impact. Linkedin.com.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reducing-your-carbon-footprint-daily-life-small-changes-umxtf#: