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Australia : To what extent does the effect of renewable and nuclear energy assist to decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Ecological Issues Analysis - Jamie Koch
To what extent does the effect of renewable and nuclear energy assist to decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Introduction:
Climate change is a major issue around the globe and is primarily caused by carbon emissions and green house gases that are released into the atmosphere. Coal and fossil fuels used to operate electricity are some of the main causes for the release of carbon dioxide, and the rate of the increasing carbon footprint, the Earth will not be able to sustain the capacity of emissions. It is predicted that if emissions continue at this expediential rate, the Earth will be ‘unfixable’ and unliveable for living organisms. However, by replacing coal and fossil fuel factories with renewable energy, that does not release excess carbon, will eventually decrease the amount of emissions in the atmosphere.
Biological Significance:
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is released into the atmosphere through human activity. It is mostly released through emissions such as electricity, transport and industry factories. Since the early 1960’s, carbon emissions has been growing rapidly and is at the highest it has ever been, which is past the Earth’s capacity. This is due to the increasing need of resources as the human population expands around the world. Carbon not only has an affect on human’s, but also animal and plant life. Due to global warming, species habitats are changing, which thus puts a stain on the wildlife. This also has to do with the carbon cycle, which keeps a balance of carbon in the atmosphere. Carbon enters the atmosphere from respiration and combustion. Producers (plants), absorb carbon to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis, this then creates oxygen. Animals feed on the plants, thus passing carbon compounds, and later, eventually die. Decomposers in the ground, eat the dead organisms. The carbon that was in their bodies is then returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In some circumstances the process of decomposition is prevented, which thus turns dead and decaying matter into fossil fuel, that can later be used for future combustion. Overtime, the balance of the carbon cycle has become unstable and dangerous to living organisms. By reducing the amount of greenhouse gases and replacing it with renewable energy, overtime may help to create positive changes in the environment. Some ways to reduce the affect of climate change and eventually decrease vast amounts of carbon in the atmosphere is by transferring the source of energy/electricity used. For example, instead of using coal or fossil fuels, use wind or solar power, as they emit little to no greenhouse gases.
Positive:
There are many benefits to using solar, nuclear and wind for electricity; one is that it reduces carbon in Atmosphere, as it has low greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are bad for the environment as it traps carbon dioxide and heat, which increases the plate’s temperature. This not only effects the environment but also has harmful impacts on health (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d.). Thus, by replacing green house gas energy with renewable, it will decrease health risks, environmental and climate disasters. It was predicted by the UCS in 2009, that by 2025, 25percent of national renewable electricity standard would lower plant CO2 emissions 277 million metric tons annually by increasing the use of renewable energy (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d.). It was also predicted that by generating 80% of the countries electricity from renewable sources, by 2050 global warming emissions from electricity production could be reduced by approximately 81percent (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d.). This is due to wind, solar and other hydroelectric systems generate electricity with no associate air pollution. They require no water to operate and thus do not pollute water resources or strain supply by competing with agriculture, drinking water systems, whereas fossil fuels can have a significant impact on water resources (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d.). Thus by using renewable energy, it will help to improve the Earth ecosystems and health of living organisms.
Positive:
By switching to renewable energy, it will help decrease the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere, which is thus highly cost effective. By replacing green house gas emissions with renewable energy, it will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being released in the atmosphere, which will overall reduce health costs and will stabilize energy prices in the future, meaning affordable electricity. Once solar panels and wind farms are built, they operate at very low cost and, for most technologies, the fuel is free. Just by using 25% renewable energy could lead to 4.1% lower natural gas prices and 7.6% lower electricity prices by 2030 (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d.). Not only will the cost of energy drop, but also health costs will drop, as illness among living organisms, such as respiratory problems and cancer will decrease (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d.). Thus, using renewable energy can lower the prices of and demand for natural gas and coal by increasing competition and diversifying our energy supplies.
Negative
Although there are many benefits, there are also many negatives to using renewable energy such as high development costs. There are huge economic impacts associated with health of fossil fuels, that is between 2.5% and 6% gross domestic product (Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies n.d.). There are also commercialization barriers. To be able to compete against mature fossil fuel and nuclear technologies renewables must overcome two major barriers to commercialization: undeveloped infrastructure and lack of economies of scale (Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies n.d). Developing new renewable resources will require large initial investments to build infrastructure. These investments increase the cost of providing renewable electricity, and thus could put the economy at risk of downfall.
Negative:
There are also some hazards when it comes to nuclear power plants during natural disasters, such as radiation. Nuclear energy is considered the worthiest alternative source of energy after fossil fuels, thus more energy is provided than other renewable options (Nuclear Energy 2009). Radioactive waste reactors needs the be disposed off a safe place since they are extremely hazardous and can leak radiations that can last from tens to hundreds of years (Nuclear Energy 2009). The radioactive radicals can contaminate the sand or water and can cause hazardous chemical reactions, which will lead to dangerous complications. Nuclear accidents, for example, in Japan after the earthquakes and tsunami, left thousands of civilians with radiation poisoning, which can effect up to ten decades after the accident. After the nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, even after 5 decades of the mishap, children today are still born with defects (Nuclear Energy 2009). People who work at nuclear power plants, or live near them, are at high risk of nuclear radiations (Nuclear Energy 2009). Nuclear radiation or ‘breeders’ are not found in nature and is harmful if introduced in the nature, thus if contacted with radioactive wastes, it can affect aquatic life and could take up to 10,000 years to get back to the original form (Nuclear Energy 2009). Uranium is a very scarce resource and exists in only a few of the countries, therefore, most countries rely on others for the constant supply of this fuel, and is mostly mined and transported to other countries. Once all extracted, nuclear products will not be of any use. This is due to its hazardous effects and limited supply, thus it cannot be termed as renewable (Nuclear Energy 2009).
Conclusion
Renewable energy is the most effective resource to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Although there are high costs into the infrastructure and development of solar and wind farms, the benefits outweigh the negatives. Nuclear power plants, if done cautiously can be an option, however, wind and solar panels seem to be of lower cost and risk free. Thus, the extent of renewable and nuclear energy assist to decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is highly reliable.
Bibliography
Benefits of Renewable Energy Use n.d., Union of Concerned Scientist, accessed 23 November 2015, <http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/public-benefits-of-renewable.html#.VlJGXod8vwz>.
Nuclear Energy 2009, Conserve Energy Future, accessed 23 November 2015, <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Disadvantages_NuclearEnergy.php>.
Barriers to Renewable Energy Technologies n.d., Union of Concerned Scientists, accessed 23 November 2015, <http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/barriers-to-renewable-energy.html#.VlJKXId8vwx>.
Renewable Energy Pros and Cons n.d., Conserve Energy Future, accessed 23 November 2015, <http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-renewable-energy.php>.
