Climate change is the most serious threat that is facing our planet today and with the increase in global energy demand each year, we must start being mindful of our carbon footprints now, particularly on carbon emissions.
We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children.
- Lester Brown -
According to findings by OECD.org, by the year 2050 without any new policies to improve on emission control issues, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to increase by 50%, primarily due to a 70% growth in energy-related CO2 emissions.
Air pollution is also set to become the world’s top environmental cause of premature mortality, overtaking dirty water and lack of sanitation. Air pollution concentrations in some cities, particularly in Asia, already far exceed World Health Organization safe levels, and they are projected to deteriorate further to 2050.
In recent years, the push for consumers to shift toward electric vehicles (EV) is seen as a forward option to help bring down pollutants being emitted into the environment.
However, let us not forget that besides automobiles, combustion engines are also built into industrial vehicles and generator sets;
together with power generation plants, these combustion engines are mostly powered by diesel.
Emissions from diesel engines contribute to the production of ground-level ozone which damages crops, trees and other vegetation. Also produced is acid rain, which affects soil, lakes and streams and enters the human food chain via water, produce, meat and fish. These emissions also contribute to property damage and reduced visibility.