climate is really due to the human activities
Reference for the other assignment
It is now a reality that climate is really due to the human activities, natural process like volcanos emit greenhouse gasses. Though in real truth, the natural processes like volcanos cannot account for the sharp increase in the amount of harmful gasses released in the atmosphere. The sharp increase is as a result of human activities.
Using the formula provided in the website, my total carbon footprint currently stands at 5,839. My total after planned action stands at 5333.
Sometimes I do travel for quit a long distance and end up emitting some carbon in the air. To control the amount of carbon, I ensure that the engine oil is changed on a regular basis. The kind of fuel I used in for kitchen purposes is gas cooker, (Carbon Footprint Calculator | Climate Change | US EPA, 2015). We do take out mainly on weekends but the rest of the week, we normally cook at home with all the family members. When food is in excess we have a big farm in the compound and the remaining food will be given to the big. We hardly throughout food in terms of the amount of energy consumed by lights, bulbs are only on when they are being used and rarely do we leave lights on or does any electric appliance remains on when not in use to minimize usage and save on energy. Items used are sometimes reused but we have never recycle items used in the family but we are hoping to achieve that someday.
The activity I can personally change to make sure I take part to reduce carbon emission is to reduce or avoiding travelling long distance using my car and instead use public means. This will end up saving on fuel and the amount of carbon that was to be burned out by my vehicle. The money which was also to be spent on fuel will be put to other usage.
By driving less, research has shown that for every mile that one walks, use bike, carpool or use mass transportation other than driving, one will end up saving one pound of carbon emission. If I use a bike, walk or use a public means, I will end up reducing the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.
By using the above findings that for every mile a person walks, a pound of carbon emission is saved, the distance I cover on a daily basis to work is about 5 miles. When the distance is doubled for to and from work, it comes to 10 miles a day. For five days this comes to 50miles. This means that by using foot to get to work or any other means apart from my car, I will have reduced 50 pounds of carbon in a weeks’ time, (Carbon Footprint Calculator | Climate Change | US EPA ,2015).
It should be noted that the gasses people release in the atmosphere will be there for a long period of time and the actions we take now can take us to a cleaner environment. Climate change may be seen as a bigger problem for governments and state corporations to act on but the truth is that all of us have a responsibility and a part to play towards achieving a cleaner environment
References
Carbon Footprint Calculator | Climate Change | US EPA. (2015, June 01). Retrieved November 16, 2020, from https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator//
(3) Reference
| Reflection Dates(at least 2 days per week; 4 total for weeks 2 & 3) | Lifestyle change(s) made | How many days of the week, or hours in the day, have you needed to address this project so far? | Did you need to invest any money into this project? If so, how much was it, and was it more or less than you expected? | Were there any surprises as you executed the first week of this project? Was it easier or more difficult than you expected? | Other observations |
| Nov. 25 | No driving | 2 hours | No money invested | No surprises | |
| Nov. 26 | Turned off unused electronics | All day | No money invested | No surprises | |
| Nov. 27 | Less driving | 4 days out the week | $15 less than | No surprises | |
| Nov. 27 | Did not turn on the heat | 4 days | No money invested | No surprises | |
| Nov. 30 | Driven more | One day | $20 more than | No surprises | |
(5)
| Reflection Dates(at least 2 days per week; 4 entries total for weeks 4 & 5) | Lifestyle change(s) made | How successful have you been week to week? Has your progress been what you expected? | How is your progress affecting your daily routine? | Other observations |
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| Reflection Dates(at least 2 days per week; 4 entries total for weeks 4 & 5) | Lifestyle change(s) made | Do you believe you will continue with this project after the semester is over? What would be the outcome if everyone on your block participated in this project? | Analyze how your project affects at least one natural resource, be it energy, water, or materials, and how that resource is managed in your community. | Other observations |
The information above should complete this part (8)
Comparing your Hypothesis
You have been targeting one lifestyle behavior during the term to reduce your carbon footprint. This week, you will provide three reliable references to any outside research that relates to the lifestyle change which you outlined in Unit 2.
For example, if you are driving a bike to work rather than a car, research how much carbon was released into the air when you drove a car. In the case of the electricity saved by shutting down a computer, find out how many hours and how many kilowatts were conserved by turning it off.
Be sure to use reliable sources of information when you conduct your research. To help guide your research, review the (a) 10 questions to ask and (b) video about baloney detection to help evaluate what a reliable source is:
a. Shermer, M. (2009). The work of Michael Shermer. Retrieved from http://www.michaelshermer.com/2009/06/baloney-detection-kit/
b. Shermer, M. (2018). How to detect baloney the Carl Sagan way. Big Think. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn7jVTGjb-I
Potentially good sources would include your local power company’s website information, your community air pollution standards, your water company’s information, and scholarly journals which focus on energy conservation or management. Visit the PG Library for assistance.
In your essay, include the following:
1. State your hypothesis and recap the methods of the behavior change challenge from the Unit 2 project.
2. Summarize the three references and explain how they support the change in behavior.
3. Compare the process of your behavior change to your hypothesis. Are the results supporting or refuting the hypothesis?
4. Did you adjust your methods to reduce the carbon footprint? Explain why or why not.
5. Explain the effects of your behavior change plan on your carbon footprint.
a. Identify community stakeholders who may be impacted by this change and evaluate their positions on the effects.
b. Discuss how environmental justice issues relate to carbon footprints.
6. From your results of your behavior change plan, explain how they can be used to design a new future challenge.
The next task (9)
One of the cornerstone concepts in environmental science is global warming and climate change. Throughout the term, you learned numerous ways in which human behaviors can modify ecosystems. For your Unit 9 Assignment, you will put together a Final Project report that describes how you attempted to reduce your carbon footprint.
Use the progress report logs from Units 3, 5, and 7 and the background research (with references) you conducted in Unit 8 to help you write your summative paper. Be sure to include your original hypothesis, methods used (from Unit 2), and your final results. You should include actual numerical data (and respective units) where appropriate (i.e., before and after usage of water/gas/oil). Assess the influence this change had on your carbon output, and the attendant effect this had on the environment.
Include a minimum of three outside references, all from reliable sources, and one direct reference to your text.
The paper should be between 750–1,000 words (approximately 3–5 pages) in APA format. Your paper should be in written in your own words. You may not copy text from any resource, except within quotations, and they may not make up any more than 10% of your paper. Include appropriate references and follow the guidelines of APA formatting. Proper citation, syntax, and spelling are the basic requirements in mechanics.
If you have any questions or require additional assistance in writing this Assignment, please work with your instructor and/or the Academic Success Center early in the term (preferably before Unit 4).
Basic Writing Expectations:
1. Your report should be between 750–1,000 words, not counting the title or reference pages, or progress reports.
2. Include a title page, double space your paper, and use font size 10 or 12.
3. Include a highly developed viewpoint/thesis, purpose, and exceptional content.
4. Demonstrate superior organization — use logic.
5. Make certain that your paper is free of grammar and spelling errors.
6. Avoid plagiarism.
7. Use the APA style for all citations.
