The US comes second, after China, in greenhouse gas emissions. This explains why its re-entry into the Paris Agreement was extremely welcome. The US rejoining the agreement was seen as a much-needed boost to the Paris deal. It also paved the way for companies in the US to pursue various green technologies and projects.
The Paris accord is set to enjoy industry-wide support, thanks to numerous federal government-supported initiatives, which have inspired more companies to go green.
Five economic sectors are responsible for emitting the most carbon, so they bear the most responsibility. They are: transport (28 percent), energy (27 percent), industry (22 percent), buildings and cities (12 percent), and agriculture, food, and waste (10 percent). These statistics do not absolve other players of their contribution to global warming, or their responsibility for curbing its far-reaching effects.
On the transport front, aviation comes in a distant second after road transport. The latter needs to increase its carbon emission reduction efforts, as flying has become less popular, post COVID-19. This doesn’t mean that actors within the aviation space can relax their emission targets, however.
CO2 and non-CO2 emissions are the primary environmental concerns associated with aviation. Studies have found that non-CO2 emissions cause twice as much warming as CO2 in this area.
Advances in engine technology, components, and aerodynamics have dramatically reduced the use of fossil fuels in recent decades. More improvements are needed, given that the aviation space could be responsible for 25 percent of all emissions by 2050.
Cleaner fuels and radical changes to aircraft design are seen as viable solutions to the aviation emission problem. As the transport sector pursues alternative power sources, the alternative solid fuels industry has emerged as the front-runner for green energy sources for various industries.
Thanks to such efforts, the world could soon usher in the age of electric aircraft. Lithium batteries are at the forefront of the quest for a fuelless plane. They have made significant technological leaps, but a battery-only powered commercial plane has yet to take off.
The potency of lithium batteries makes the technology worth exploring. Even so, electric planes will only be as green as their energy source. As is the case with electric cars, trains, and other emission-free means of transport, there remains the possibility of transferring the environmental cost of battery production to another sector.
Using non-renewable sources of energy to manufacture lithium batteries presents yet another environmental challenge. A lithium battery comprises 20 different materials passed through a complex production system and several refining stages. Therefore, the pursuit of emission-less, lithium-powered flights ought to prioritize renewable, resource efficient production processes. Otherwise, it will simply be a case of moving emissions from one pipeline to another.
The Paris Agreement offers a chance for the planet to address climate change, a by-product of a series of centuries-long human actions. So more time and effort is needed to reverse its effects. Although collective action is needed, the biggest responsibility lies with the five major CO2 emitters. On the transport front, the aviation sector is working to develop emission-free planes. To arrive at the optimal solution from a climate standpoint, innovation ought to be resource efficient, while avoiding the transfer of environmental costs.
The Paris accord is set to enjoy industry-wide support, thanks to numerous federal government-supported initiatives, which have inspired more companies to go green.
Five economic sectors are responsible for emitting the most carbon, so they bear the most responsibility. They are: transport (28 percent), energy (27 percent), industry (22 percent), buildings and cities (12 percent), and agriculture, food, and waste (10 percent). These statistics do not absolve other players of their contribution to global warming, or their responsibility for curbing its far-reaching effects.
On the transport front, aviation comes in a distant second after road transport. The latter needs to increase its carbon emission reduction efforts, as flying has become less popular, post COVID-19. This doesn’t mean that actors within the aviation space can relax their emission targets, however.
CO2 and non-CO2 emissions are the primary environmental concerns associated with aviation. Studies have found that non-CO2 emissions cause twice as much warming as CO2 in this area.
Advances in engine technology, components, and aerodynamics have dramatically reduced the use of fossil fuels in recent decades. More improvements are needed, given that the aviation space could be responsible for 25 percent of all emissions by 2050.
Cleaner fuels and radical changes to aircraft design are seen as viable solutions to the aviation emission problem. As the transport sector pursues alternative power sources, the alternative solid fuels industry has emerged as the front-runner for green energy sources for various industries.
Thanks to such efforts, the world could soon usher in the age of electric aircraft. Lithium batteries are at the forefront of the quest for a fuelless plane. They have made significant technological leaps, but a battery-only powered commercial plane has yet to take off.
The potency of lithium batteries makes the technology worth exploring. Even so, electric planes will only be as green as their energy source. As is the case with electric cars, trains, and other emission-free means of transport, there remains the possibility of transferring the environmental cost of battery production to another sector.
Using non-renewable sources of energy to manufacture lithium batteries presents yet another environmental challenge. A lithium battery comprises 20 different materials passed through a complex production system and several refining stages. Therefore, the pursuit of emission-less, lithium-powered flights ought to prioritize renewable, resource efficient production processes. Otherwise, it will simply be a case of moving emissions from one pipeline to another.
The Paris Agreement offers a chance for the planet to address climate change, a by-product of a series of centuries-long human actions. So more time and effort is needed to reverse its effects. Although collective action is needed, the biggest responsibility lies with the five major CO2 emitters. On the transport front, the aviation sector is working to develop emission-free planes. To arrive at the optimal solution from a climate standpoint, innovation ought to be resource efficient, while avoiding the transfer of environmental costs.
