Global Climate Change has been an ongoing controversial issue for the past century. Various factors influence the earth’s climate system, such as natural and human activities. The primary sources of the generation of greenhouse gas emissions include coal, oil, gas, and transportation. There are many other human activities that generate GHG emissions. If proper action is not performed to combat toxic emissions, this will have a major impact worldwide. The effects of Global Climate Change will cause extreme weather conditions, dirty air, health risks, and rising sea levels.
One of my research topics will be focusing on the various industries that are most pollutant to society. These industries include energy, transportation, industry and production, and agriculture. According to the United State Environmental Protection Agency, energy makes up 25%, transportation makes up 14%, industry and production makes up 21%, and Agriculture makes up 24% of Green house Gas emissions.
The energy industry contribution to greenhouse gas emissions includes the burning of coal, natural gas, oil, and heat mainly for residential and commercial. Transportation involves the burning of fossil fuels for rail, air, road and marine transportation. Industry and production also involve the burning of fossil fuels on site at facilities for energy, as well as chemical and mineral transportation. Agriculture and other land uses, greenhouse gas emission is mostly due to cultivation of crop and livestock and deforestation.
The second subtopic I will be discussing are the experiences industries face with carbon-energy taxation. The research article, Europe’s experience with carbon-energy taxation, discusses about the implications of carbon-energy taxation for CO2 emissions and energy consumption, macroeconomic results, the theoretical debate of tax shifts, energy- intensive industries, and double regulation with ETR and ETS. What are the outcomes of carbon taxation imposed on various industries?
The third subtopic that will be discussed are the preventative measures that can be implemented while generating profit. Preventative measures for an industry to act upon is essential to the health of the societies or communities. There is a misconception of pollution reducing profits. According to a research study, Is Pollution Profitable?, discusses that environmental policy is compatible with company profits. There is a strong correlation between companies with pollution control and companies with a good profit record. What preventative measures can be implemented without increasing profits and benefiting societal atmosphere?
The fourth subtopic the current form of energy industrial revolution. For many years, technology has advanced exponentially leading to physical assets preventing toxic emissions. For example, in the research article, China’s Energy Industrial revolution, demonstrates that China is experiencing two contradictory facets in the energy industry. China is building thermal power stations, increasing its consumption of coal and becoming the world’s largest emitter of CO2. However, China is also transition into the renewable energy sector and zero-carbon industries. China is implementing hydro power, wind power, and solar thermal. In what ways are industries transitioning to, to prevent future excessive climate change?
The objective of my research is to consolidate all areas in which climate change is being affected by elaborating on each of my subtopics. This will provide a broader scope of global perspective by looking at various industries and how they are contributing to climate change, the consequences industries are facing, preventative measures industries are implementing, and new ventures industries are transitioning to.
When performing my research, the search terms that were useful were “corporations or organizations or company,” since my research topic is mainly focused on the industry as a whole. Additionally, “industry or industrial revolution,” provided a broader scope of climate change that encompasses all business or individual entities. This provides a macro perspective of how climate affects globally. I’ve also included “global climate change or global warming,” which provided a plethora of sources since climate change is a well-known topic throughout history.
The databases utilized for this research project were google scholar, econ lit, and documentaries on YouTube. Google Scholar and Econlit had factual and analytical research that made my research credible. The research studies included regression analysis, literature reviews, and sample sourcing. The variety of research studies allow a more vibrant research and reliable source to reference from. Although, YouTube wasn’t used in my research, it did help me understand the importance of climate change from a visual perspective.
The analysis methods that I used to obtain or to synthesize my literature was beginning with having an overall picture of what climate change is. As I get a better understanding of climate change, I narrowed my focus to industries and how they contribute to climate change. Thus, I used the search engines that pertain to industrial revolution and climate change. This led to deciding each of my subtopics that affect all areas of climate change affected by industries. My literature summary table was very diverse and because it was diverse changes were needed. A few of my research articles were eliminated from my research and these included countries contributing to climate change, policies and regulations implemented, and small sample sized case studies.
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data, provided a broad scope of each industry’s contribution to GHG emissions by economic sector. This data allows an overall picture of which industry has a main affect on climate change with Energy, Industry and Production, and Agriculture being the highest. The trend in global emissions increased since 1900 to 2010, according to the data. Since times have changed, research has shown that climate change has decreased.
Europe’s Experience with Carbon-energy taxation, provides the implications of carbo-energy taxation for CO2 emissions and energy consumption. For example, the demand for energy is reduced as a result of tax impositions, and carbon fuels are substituted by low carbon or carbon neutral fuels that are taxed at lower rates. Literature also suggest the exchange of axes for carbon-energy taxes, the opportunity arises to receive the positive benefits of higher employment rate, economic performance, and long-term environmental dividend.
Is Pollution Profitable? This article was very interesting in terms of how industries can implement certain strategies or ideas to the daily operations of the work place. The foundation of climate change is the result of human activities. If these preventative measures are utilized, these microscopic actions will lead to larger results. Pollution controls and preventative measure can lead to a good reputation for the industry and good profitable outcomes.
China’s Energy Industrial Revolution, is a good research study that represents modern society. It contains two types of society’s; one generating excessive emissions and one combating excessive emissions. While we are implementing renewable energy sources to prevent GHG emissions, climate change is still a problematic issue. It is evident, that our society today is transitioning to alternative resources, including electric cars or windmills.
My research findings allowed me to understand the overall affects of climate change between industries. These various areas help understand the significant impact of how industries can contribute to climate both in a negative and positive way. However, each subtopic has it’s own in depth and plethora of analysis and information to have a general consensus. The various research articles show the industrial effects, consequences, preventative measures, and alternative resources.
In conclusion, the technicality and complex language used in the research was the challenging part of this research project. I believe that more literature and common language should be provided to understand the researcher’s analysis. I have found that all industries in some shape or form affects climate change in both a positive and negative. Each industry has the ability to prevent climate change with internal processes and implementing renewable energy sources.
