A recent proposal outlined in Science Magazine suggests an alternative to cutting fossil fuel consumption in reducing the impacts of climate change. The focus here would be on reducing the sources of black carbon, or soot commonly emitted from diesel engines and many cooking stoves and kilns. A substantial portion of the recent warming in the Arctic and melting glaciers in the Himalayas has been attributed to black carbon. The most significant source of black carbon is methane. After considering hundreds of ways to control sources of black carbon, researchers determined 14 effective measures for reducing climate change, which include switching to cleaner diesel engines and stoves, methane capture at landfills and oil wells, and draining rice paddies to reduce methane emissions. The researchers calculated that projected warming by 2050 could be reduced by one third, or approximately 1°F below what would be the case if nothing is done. This could potentially prevent 0.7-4.7 million premature deaths each year. It is argued that while reducing fossil fuel consumption will be a very slow and gradual process constrained by the need for economic growth, the proposed strategy could benefit poor countries now and not decades into the future when it may already be too late.
Gary Monitz
One Response
Cutting down the fossil fuel usage and adapting alternative energy sources as solar and wind energy is the only way to move towards a more greener and better world. All the countries of the world should help each other and collectively work together to preserve the future of the earth.