Fossil fuels, greenhouse effect

Fossil fuels Greenhouse effect (CO2) Global Earth warming Kyoto Protocol 1997... 

The environmental effects of substituting bio-based polymers for petrochemical polymers on a large scale were estimated [13]. Two perspectives were taken. First, the savings of fossil fuels, the effects of greenhouse emissions and the consequences for land use (in Europe) were studied. Second, it was analysed whether the lower specific impact of bio-based potymers (e.g. kg-C02 eq. per kg of polymer) can (over)compensate the additional environmental impacts caused by expected high growth in petrochemical plastics. 

Burning of any hydrocarbon (fossil fuel) or, for that matter, any organic material converts its carbon content to carbon dioxide and its hydrogen to water. Because power plants and other industries emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, they contribute to the so-called greenhouse warming effect on our planet, which causes significant en-... 

Carbon. Most of the Earth s supply of carbon is stored in carbonate rocks in the Hthosphere. Normally the circulation rate for Hthospheric carbon is slow compared with that of carbon between the atmosphere and biosphere. The carbon cycle has received much attention in recent years as a result of research into the possible relation between increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, most of which is produced by combustion of fossil fuel, and the "greenhouse effect," or global warming. Extensive research has been done on the rate at which carbon dioxide might be converted to cellulose and other photosyntheticaHy produced organic compounds by various forms of natural and cultivated plants. Estimates also have been made of the rate at which carbon dioxide is released to soil under optimum conditions by various kinds of plant cover, such as temperature-zone deciduous forests, cultivated farm crops, prairie grassland, and desert vegetation. 

Alternative fuels, p. 246 Acid rain and the gene pool, p. 430 The ozone layer, p. 568 The greenhouse effect, p. 610 Nuclear power, p. 722 Fossil fuels, p. 745... 

Other than longer-term supply issues the main driver for moving away from fossil resources is pollution. Since pre-industrial times the level of atmospheric CO2 has risen from 280 ppm to 360 ppm, and whilst some observers believe this may be a natural cycle in the Earth s history, most believe it is a direct consequence of burning fossil fuels. This additional CO2 is now thought to be the main cause of global warming via the greenhouse effect (see Box 6.1). 

The fourth example, the use of chemical processing on Mars for producing a propellant, is presented in Section 1.9.7 [106]. The fifth and last example describes the use of distributed systems for global carbon dioxide management, aiming at reducing the greenhouse effect [106]. The main issue here is the installation of gas-absorption equipment for CO2 capture at central, fossil-fuel power plants. 

The increasing cost of fossil fuels and the concerns related to their environmental impact and greenhouse gas effect, as well as the need of securing energy supplies, are accelerating the transition to a bio-based economy. Various R D tools need to be provided to realize this transition. The replacement of fossil fuel by bio-mass has been addressed in recent years worldwide. The EU, for example, has defined a target to double the share of renewable energy from 6% in 1997 to 12% by 2010 (COM 1997 599). 

Another problem associated with fossil fuel combustion is the greenhouse effect, which brings up critical environmental concerns. 

C02is the most important gas relevant to climate and as such, is responsible for the greenhouse effect with 22% (Schonwiese 1995). CO2 emissions are produced by burning fossil energy. Thus, agriculture s contribution to CO2 emission derives from both direct consumption of oil and fuel and indirect consumption of energy (e.g. production and transport of fertilisers, pesticides). 

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