Limitations of the Energy Industry
Fossil fuels are only available to a limited extent
extent.
Combustion of fossil fuels releases CO2,
the predominant greenhouse gas produced by Man.
There are other noxious bi-products
bi products of combustion
combustion, such
as soot, breathable dust, sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide.
Nuclear energy is an alternative, but also a safety risk.
Nuclear energy is an alternative, but also a safety risk.
Until now
now, a minority of people have been using the most
fuel, which is unjust.
Characteristics of CO2
A natural component of the atmosphere
Is (naturally) released by all living things via respiration, is
released by volcanic activity…
Required by plants as a raw material for photosynthesis
Released (by Man) in the combustion of carbonaceous
fuels (e.g. oil, natural gas, coal, wood); also released when
the earth is violently disturbed
In 2005, 379 ppm (0.0379 percentage volume) recorded in
the atmosphere; this is an increase of 35% compared the
start of the Industrial Age (circa 1750)
Certain to increase in the atmosphere
Greenhouse Effect
No greenhouse
effect:
Natural greenhouse
effect :
Man made
Man-made
greenhouse effect :
Minus
greenhouse
effect Î -18°C
on the Earth‘s
surface
(average)
With natural
greenhouse gases
Î +15
+15°C
C on the
Earth‘s surface
(average)
With man-made
greenhouse gases
Î almost +16
+16°C
C
Î +33°C
Î additonal
+0 74°C
+0.74
C in the 20th
C
Î Certain to
increase
CO2 is the predominant greenhouse gas released by Man; it
is responsible for nearly 80% of the man
man-made
made greenhouse
effect
Global warming – and?!
The following effects are feared:
Melting of the glaciers
Problems with drinking water, such as
Increase in sea level,
level coastal flooding
Increase in extreme weather events (torrential rain,
heat waves, storms)
More heavy rain in higher areas
Less heavy rain in subtropical mainland regions
(and problems with agriculture and hunger, for example)
Animals and plants change their habitats
habitats,
or are threatened with extinction
Climate Protection and the Energy Diet
The greater the levels of global warming
warming, the more serious
the effects will be.
To prevent severe changes to the climate, the atmosphere
should not warm up beyond2°C maximum compared to preindustrial times
times.
The concentration of CO2 should be capped at 350 ppm
(parts per million).
Current situation: 379 ppm
ppm, and increasing.
increasing
Î Time for an energy diet!