Reducing greenhouse gas emmisions
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

The previous lesson ended with some information on how the measures introduced by The Netherlands have reduced the production of greenhouse gases. This is in response to question 10, section (d) on the June 2008 paper II. Here is the question again:

(d) Using examples from a developed country, explain how TWO measures can reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

As already indicated, your list of developed countries, as given in the geography syllabus, includes Canada and the United States. Let me share with you information obtained from a website on measures in the United States.

The food system encompasses all the activities associated with providing food to consumers. These include food production, (for example, onsite clearing, cultivation and harvesting, and offsite production of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs) and post-harvest activities (for example food processing, transport, cooking). In America, Congress has become increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of the food system and has begun to address some of these through legislation.

Food-sector emissions

Although estimates are uncertain, the food sector might account for one-third of global methane (CH4) emissions; one-fifth of net global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; up to 15 per cent of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions; and anywhere from one-tenth to one-fifth of current global nitrous oxide (N20) emissions. Food-sector emissions of all these gases will grow, barring efforts to contain them, as efforts to provide food for the world's growing population intensify.

In the United States, several options are available to reduce food-sector emissions in the near term.

• Methane emissions from livestock could be reduced by improving nutrient and manure management (and, possibly, by increasing productivity) or by reducing demand for livestock products.
• Fertilisers and other sources of applied nitrogen, such as crop residues and animal wastes, could be used more efficiently. This might reduce N20 emissions, as well as surface and groundwater contamination, and would help conserve soil organic matter.
• Nitrogen fertiliser manufacturing and on-site farm machinery and cultivation practices could be more energy efficient. While reductions in CO2 emissions would be relatively small, other benefits such as decreased local air pollution from fossil fuel combustion would accrue.
• Land transformations that help remove carbon from the atmosphere (such as converting crop land to forest land) could be encouraged, while those that increase CO2 emissions could be discouraged.
• In food refrigeration, emissions can be curbed by preventing the release of CFCs from existing refrigerators and eliminating their future use; and by improving energy efficiencies.
• Further CO2 reductions can be achieved by designing stoves and ovens that use energy more efficiently and by increasing fuel efficiency in vehicles used in food transport.

Information on measures in Canada can be obtained from Geography for CSEC by Jeanette Ottley et al, another recommended text for this course. It informs us that much of Canada's industrial energy comes from hydroelectric plants. This reduces the amount of greenhouse gases that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.

Other measures

The text further states that Canada has put certain measures in place including:

• use of renewable energy technology - water, wind and tidal
• conservation of forests reserves - large land areas left unspoiled
• reforestation programmes
• municipal recycling
• a developed transport sector
• environmental laws and enforcement programmes
• conventions and protocols (international agreements)
• environmental law resources

In addition, there is information on how the average Canadian citizen participates in this thrust. They do so in several ways, including:

• recycling garbage
• using public transport
• Carpooling
• obeying the environmental laws.
• Including environmental education as part of the school curriculum.
• 'Green' organisations having power and can influence the government (a green organisation is a group that supports environmental protection)
• The fact that car upkeep is expensive (insurance, registration, maintenance and gas), which deters young people.

The other developed countries on the list are The United Kingdom and France. For your own information, see what you can find about the measures that these countries have in place to reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

The five youth awardees pose with their certificates of appreciation. They are (from left) Shane Hurlock, sixth-form student at Bridgeport High School; Natalie Foster, formerly at Excelsior High, now at Excelsior Community College; Christeena Johnson, UTech; Jheaneil Clarke, Immaculate Conception sixth form; and Orlando whyte, engineering student at UTech. The occasion was Monza Citizens' Association 13th Anniversary Celebratory Service at Holiness Apostolic Church, Old Braeton, Portmore, St Catherine, on Sunday, January 25. The Citizens' Association honoured the five young people who did well at CSEC and CAPE. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer