It is a well-known fact that emissions play a contributing role in not only global warming, but water pollution and air pollution as well. In order to control the negative effects on the environment, it is absolutely crucial to lower the number of emissions occurring on a daily basis. Governments, businesses, and the transportation industry alike are currently in the process of researching better fuels which contains lower greenhouse gas emissions.

What Emissions are released into the Atmosphere?

- Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels being burnt by vehicles are a daily occurrence. When fuel is burned, carbon dioxide is released into the air. This carbon dioxide is used by trees and plants to photosynthesize; however, when too much carbon dioxide is omitted, the result is climate change. Human transportation is seen to be the big scapegoat responsible for the majority of carbon emissions affecting the Earth’s climate.

Research into replacement fuels for vehicles is currently underway. Alternative fuels such as switch grass ethanol and E85 ethanol result in far less carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The problem with ethanol is that the actual production thereof is responsible for creating a larger than expected amount of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce these emissions, the factories producing this alternative fuel may need to lower their impact on the environment as well.

- Methane

Another greenhouse gas emission, methane, is released into the atmosphere primarily from landfills. Landfills are large open spaces used to dump trash and unwanted items. Methane is released as soon as this trash decays, meaning methane collects in the atmosphere and subsequently climate change occurs.

In order to lower emissions of methane from landfills, the amount of waste per household should be reduced. Making use of biodegradable materials and recycling are two methods that can be used to reduce household waste. Biodegradable materials break down far more quickly, which results in fewer emissions and thus a smaller effect on the environment.

What can Businesses do to lower Emissions?

Businesses can lower their emissions by choosing green alternatives in the workplace. The term green is commonly used for products that have lower emissions and therefore a smaller carbon footprint on the environment. Carbon footprint is the term used to describe the long-term effect a product has on the Earth. A smaller carbon footprint can thus be the same as fewer carbon emissions.