What is the environment in Europe?
2004/12/01 Kortabitarte Egiguren, Irati - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
The European Union Environment Agency provides data on this issue annually. These data are based on a series of environmental indicators that allow us to know the evolution more than the current state. In fact, in general, these environmental indicators can be measured and analyzed in certain timeframes. The analysis of the evolution of these indicators allows to predict or correct negative trends.
The state of the environment can be measured according to many factors, but limiting the analysis to 22 indicators is easier to understand and measure for all. These indicators are divided into 8 categories: atmosphere and climate, glaciers, snow and ice, marine ecosystem, terrestrial ecosystem and biodiversity, water, agriculture, economy and health.
This year's report highlights the need to continue managing the environmental impact of agriculture, transport and energy consumption. The combustion of fossil fuels, the transport and energy sector, agricultural activity and industrial processes are, among others, the main generators of greenhouse gases. And all these gases and many others, as is known, harm the environment.
Greenhouse effect
Due to human activity, since the beginning of industrialization the concentration of many greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, has increased considerably. The concentration of CO 2 before industrialization was 280 ppm and 375 ppm in 2003. In addition, this concentration increases annually around 0.5%, mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels.
Although some aspects of this growing concentration or, rather, some conclusions do not always coincide with the scientific community, in recent years international decisions have been made to address the problem. Among the most important are the Kyoto Protocol. That is, an international agreement that regulates the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere of industrialized countries. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the result of a conference held in Kyoto in December 1997.
Climate change is therefore a global threat to the environment. In fact, there is concern that the concentration of CO 2 and other gases increases and excessive warming of the atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect occurs. The average European temperature has risen 0.95 C in the last hundred years and by 2100 experts believe it could increase 6.3 C.
However, do not forget that the greenhouse effect is a natural fact that has allowed on Earth a warm average temperature and not -18 C.-18.
The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O). One of the best ways to reduce these emissions would be to use energy more efficiently and replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources.
Transport is one of the main causes of environmental degradation. And the transport situation in Europe is getting worse from an environmental point of view. This is because the number of vehicles on the roads is increasing continuously, directly affecting energy consumption, climate change and health.
Road vehicles and aircraft emit toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases, generate waste, cause noise pollution, etc.
The European Union aims for 2010 to strengthen transport by rail, maritime and river, placing it in the background by both road and plane. The trend is different. Thus, road transport grows by around 2% each year and air transport by 6-9%.
Situation in the ACBC
The network of environmental indicators has a small number of European regions, including the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. Energy and transport are the sectors that have increased their greenhouse gas emissions in Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.
The main environmental problems we currently have are a consequence of the need for energy that humans have (greenhouse gas emissions, OS 2 and NO x emissions, etc. ). ). And the data also indicate it. Energy is the sector that emits the most greenhouse gas emissions in the ACBC. In 2003 it emitted 5.9 million tons, 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Between 2002 and 2003 the transport sector has increased its greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere by 8%. The road transport sector is primarily responsible for this growth.
Agriculture is one of the few sectors that meets Kyoto. From 1990 to the present, the agricultural sector has increased its greenhouse gas emissions by 12%, which according to the Kyoto Protocol can reach 15% in the Spanish state.
However, not everything is bad and climate change can have benefits. In fact, with higher temperatures agriculture in northern Europe would improve. The number of bird species inhabiting Europe has increased in the last decade and it is possible that as temperatures rise they continue in that direction.
However, it is clear that addressing climate change is everyone's responsibility, and that it is up to us to look after this precious world, because we have brought the Earth to this situation. Governments, for their responsibility, must make decisions without a doubt. But citizens can also take many steps to take care of our environment, because our daily tasks directly affect the environment.
Fertilizer damage
Most fertilizers used in agriculture have as main component nitrogen. Nitrogen accelerates plant growth and production. However, the excessive application of nitrogen in the land causes the plants not to use the entire nitrogen and problems occur. On the one hand, gases are emitted and on the other, water is polluted.
Gas emissions occur when several nitrogen compounds are taken off due to the action of soil microorganisms. Some of these compounds, such as nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and nitric oxide (NO 2), can cause serious environmental problems. The first of these significantly affects the greenhouse effect and is one of the most dangerous compounds along with carbon dioxide (CO 2). And nitric oxide can cause acid rain.
In addition to gaseous emissions, water pollution must be taken into account. When nitrogen is in the form of nitrate (NO 3), along with rainwater you can reach drinking water wells, rivers and lakes. Health problems may occur in drinking water. In the second case, it helps water eutrophication. When there is eutrophication, the microorganisms and aquatic plants grow too much, the oxygen is wasted from the water and the fish are drowned.
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Elhuyarrek garatutako teknologia
