Month: March 2023

The title of my post is certainly a bit misleading, of course climate change isn’t good but it’s interesting to take a look at the other side of the argument. Our biosphere and the ecosystems that our species’ are built upon are extremely unstable, any slight movement or change can cause the whole balancing act of life to fall and crash. This is why climate change is such an issue, because for a human three extra celsius doesn’t seem too bad, but when you factor in microbial life, weather, and so many other factors it becomes a big deal.

While most of life and wills suffer from the effects of climate change, taking a look at what will benefit shows us how important the conditions of a climate are for certain species. Jellyfish are a prime example of this. Jellyfish actually thrive in warmer water and have seen population explosions in regions that are experiencing temperature growth. Jellyfish are actually a plankton, and are made up of million of tiny organisms that form what we know as a jellyfish. Thus, what we know about bacteria and plankton reign true as well, warmer conditions typically lead to better conditions for growth.

Another species that will benefit from climate change is the Bark Beetle. This insect borrows into trees and eat them from the inside, distributing larvae and waste throughout its roots and trunk. Bark Beetles are usually kept in check by frigid winter which kill any beetles unfortunate enough to not find a tree to call home. This natural population control maintains the population to a low level and thus their impact is subdued. However as temperatures rise, winters will become shorter and less intense which means the beetle population will rise. Great news for the beetle, bad news for the trees that host these parasites.

Along with these species, many other aquatic species will benefit. Nurse sharks, starfish, and some smaller fish will experience populations booms in regions where they are experiencing major declines in population.

Understanding these differences in species can help us better understand the intricate balance of our climate and how little variation in temperature can impact the world. While these are just a few examples, many more exist and whose futures  are dependent upon whether climate change occurs or not which is weird to think about. I think the best course of action for humans is to pursue a zero change policy where we attempt to minimize our impacts on the planet. Whether we like it or not, some species simply can’t survive forever and by trying ti play god and help every species, we may end up harming the majority of the planet. Putting an end to carbon emission and minimizing our impact is the best solution for this climate issue, and saves the vast majority of species from extinction. Humans are expected to weather whatever storms climate change may bring, but whatever is left after may not be worth living in. While we can have the technology and time to make a change, let’s change our ways and put an end to climate change.

 

When you imagine the environmental crisis and point to a form of transportation that’s causing the most harm, most people would point to cars and trucks are the primary offender for producing greenhouse gases. All over the news you hear about self-driving cars, and electric vehicles which will solve climate change and save the world. The reality is that while these personal forms of transportation certainly impact the environment, the worst of this impact comes from the aviation industry. Per passenger, each person who flies contributes roughly 254kg of Carbon, while each passenger in a car contributes about 171kg. In fact, if you were to cut 1-2 flights per year for the rest of your life, you could decrease your carbon footprint by about 20%!

Part of this issue can be contributed to a lack of options. When comparing land-based options for travel you can point to cars, trains, bikes, buses, and even electric scooters. For sea, you only really have the option of a boat, but these typically are more carbon friendly than planes. With aviation however, the only forms of travel that are efficient for long haul travel are these planes. For years the idea of electric vehicles have been proposed so development of this technology is far along, and the per cost average of a car is significantly lower. Yet, with planes the idea of electric or carbon-friendly planes are relatively recent, and you can’t necessarily build thousands of plane prototypes because of the production cost.

The reason that aviation makes up 2.5% of global carbon produced can be attributed to the fuel it consumes. Most flights consume about 5 gallons of fuel per mile traveled, or about .2 miles per gallon. Whereas most cars operate at a 25 gallon per mile fuel efficiency. Upon testing airplane fuel and atmosphere that was recently in contact with the fuel by product, scientists have determined multiple factors that lead to environmental harm. Direct Co2 is produced from the burning of this fuel which leads to the trapping of heat in our atmosphere. On top of this soot, sulphate, and contrails can also warm our atmosphere and cause heat to be trapped inside the atmopshere.

Efforts to curb the environmental effects of planes have began to enter mainstream news and amongst the scientific community. United Technologies has been developing an engine for the last 20 years which is set to significantly decrease the carbon impact engines and fuel have on our climate. Over $1 billion have been poured into the project for the gear alone, and over $10 billion for the whole engine. The engine works at high efficiency and minimizes the consumption rate of fuel and energy. They’re also quieter, produce less chemicals and soot, and will contribute thousands of jobs to the US economy.

The aviation industry has a long way to go before anyone would consider it environmentally positive or neutral, but work is being done at accelerate rates to supplement the neglect it has faced in the path. I wouldn’t expect a carbon neutral plane to enter production anytime soon, but taking one step at a time is better than ignoring the issue altogether.