Implications to Society I

In order to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases, the society has to change the way it functions in numerous aspects, such as finding alternatives and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. This implication can be both positive and negative. It might make processes more efficient or sustainable but might also hinder certain practices or make certain things more inconvenient or difficult to execute.

1.  Implications due to reducing Carbon dioxide emissions. 

The most effective way to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is to reduce fossil fuel consumption.

• Many strategies for reducing CO2 emissions from energy are cross-cutting and apply to homes, businesses, industry, and transportation. Improving the insulation of buildings, traveling in more fuel-efficient vehicles, and using more efficient electrical appliances are all ways to reduce energy consumption, and thus CO2 emissions. This is evident from the rise in number of green buildings, which are designed to be more eco-friendly by for example having better natural ventilation. One such example is none other than the “Hive” in NTU.
• Producing more energy from renewable sources and using fuels with lower carbon contents are ways to reduce carbon emissions. This resulted in the rising prominence of solar and hydro energy plants in the world.

These solutions have mainly brought about positive implications to the society as it reduced pollution, improved sustainability of energy as we are less reliant on fossil fuels as well as reduced energy consumption by improving ventilation in new buildings.

2. Implications due to reducing Methane emissions.

• Methane can be reduced and captured by altering manure management strategies at livestock operations or animal feeding practices
• Emission controls that capture landfill CH4

The negative implications due to these solutions is that farmers now have to incur more costs as well as go through more trouble to meet regulation laws. This might spur farmers to move out of the agricultural industry and into other industries. Hence possibly reducing the supply of food in the near future.

3. Implications due to reducing Nitrous Oxide emissions.

• human activities such as agriculture, fossil fuel combustion, wastewater management, and industrial processes are increasing the amount of N₂O in the atmosphere.
• we find that reducing meat consumption in conjunction with mass transition to green energy, is one of the most effective solutions to reducing nitrous oxide emissions. 

Cutting down on meat consumption is difficult to achieve as the society is moving towards the opposite direction, as can be seen from rising obesity rates. This means that the society might have to change their daily habits. This can be both negative or positive in the sense that it causes inconveniences but also makes society healthier.

4. Implications due to reducing Fluorinated Gases emissions.

• Refrigerants used by businesses and residences emit fluorinated gases. Emissions can be reduced by use of substitutes with lower global warming potentials and other technological improvements.
• The Kyoto Protocol (1997) limited the use of fluorinated gases with the intention of reducing their emissions.

This was detrimental to society huge costs were incurred to change the refrigerant which was widely used. However, it can be seen that as long as we put our minds to it, such drastic changes can be achieved. This is evident in our society now, where our refrigerants no longer emit greenhouse gases.

5. Implications due to reducing Ozone levels.

“Bad” ozone is formed due to the presence of nitrogen oxides in the air. Hence in order to reduce ozone levels, we have to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

• Nitrogen oxides is a byproduct of fuel combustion, so reducing mobile fuel consumption in motor vehicles or reducing traffic in general can reduce transportation emissions. Improvements in public transport is in a way a solution as it incentivise people to not drive automobiles. 
• The introduction of pollution control technologies, such as catalytic converters to reduce exhaust pollutants from passenger cars, can also reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides.

These solutions can be costly as technologies have to be installed and this is a problematic implication to the society. Furthermore, society is inconvenienced as they have to take public transport instead of driving their own vehicles.

Implications to Society II

Due to retention of energy by greenhouse gases, Earth’s atmosphere has been steadily increasing in temperature. The change in temperatures in different regoins on Earth will have different impacts. Global warming will cause drastic weather changes, such as floods and prolonged heat waves, thus destroying crops and livestock.Shifting seasonal rainfall patterns and more severe precipitation events—and related flooding—may delay planting and harvesting. Prime growing temperatures may shift to higher latitudes, where soil and nutrients may not be as suitable for producing crops, leaving lower-latitude areas less productive.Areas that normally depend on rain for agriculture will now have to switch to more expensive and energy consuming alternatives such as irrigation. By switching to irrigation, agriculture activities will also further tax a country’s limited water resources brought on by global warming. As a result, affected countries might switch to more profitable business opportunities , lowering overall food supply which brings about a rise in food prices.

The increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would mean that the ocean is absorbing larger amounts of carbon dioxide. When carbon dioxide is dissolved, it forms carbonic acid with water. Hence, pH of the ocean falls, upsetting the delicate pH balance that millions and millions of organisms rely on. Coral polyps, which maintain and build coral reefs are one of those affected by acidification of the ocean. When a polyp attaches to a rock on the seafloor, it divides into many clones and eventually creates a reef. Ocean acidification can slow the growth of coral skeletons, and make reefs more brittle and less resistant to stressors like warming water temperatures.Reefs protect our coastlines from erosion and flooding, support local economies through tourism and fisheries, and host vastly productive ecosystems. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for example, estimates that about half a billion people live within 100 kilometers of a coral reef and benefit from the protection and natural resources it offers. Coral reefs are considered to be the most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet. When coral is hit hard by both ocean acidification and climate change, so too are the many species that humans rely on for food. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, “fish, including shellfish, contribute 15 percent of animal protein for 3 billion people worldwide. A further 1 billion people rely on fisheries for their primary source of protein.” Hence, acidification of oceans will lead to a cascade of events that will ultimately lead to a fall in marine wildlife population, increasingly difficult growing conditions for fishes and corals, greatly impacting world food supply and the tourism industry is likewise affected.

The rise in temperature caused by increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has also affected human health negatively. When temperatures rise, more people are likely to suffer from heat stroke and dehydration. Climate change is projected to increase the vulnerability of urban populations to heat-related health impacts in the future. Heat waves are also often accompanied by periods of stagnant air, leading to increases in air pollution and associated health effects. Warmer temperatures and shifting weather patterns can worsen air quality, which can lead to asthma attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. Wildfires, which are expected to continue to increase in number and severity as the climate changes, create smoke and other unhealthy air pollutants. Rising carbon dioxide levels and warmer temperatures also affect airborne allergens, such as ragweed pollen.