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Carbon Footprint
In recent times, our planet has faced numerous challenges, such as climate crisis, global warming, and air pollution. The role of humans in causing these problems is significant. Although the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was negligible over the course of our planet's existence, it sharply increased after the industrial revolution. As the levels of greenhouse gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere rise, the planet becomes warmer. Consequently, the rising temperatures lead to the destruction of many plants and animals, disruption of ecosystem balance, as well as the melting of glaciers and climate change. If we aim to make the world cleaner, we must introduce a new concept into our lives - the carbon footprint. While the joint use of the terms "carbon" and "footprint" may seem abstract at first glance, it signifies the traces left by human activity on nature.
What is a Carbon Footprint?
Firstly, what is a carbon footprint, and how can we reduce it? Let's try to find answers to these questions. The carbon footprint is the equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions expelled into the atmosphere as a result of human, family, institutional, or national activities. Simply put, the carbon footprint is a measure of the damage inflicted on the environment by human activity. Every step we take to disrupt the natural balance of the world, in other words, the harm we inflict on nature, is defined as a carbon footprint. When it comes to the elements constituting the carbon footprint, the first thing that comes to mind is industrial activity and energy consumption. The balance that has been maintained since the creation of the world has been disrupted over time due to human activity and the quantity of greenhouse gases, such as water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and the increase in nitrous oxide (N2O) content in the atmosphere. As a result of this increase, the Earth began to warm more than necessary.
The carbon footprint per person amounts to approximately 4 tons. Countries like China, America, and India are among the nations with the highest carbon dioxide emissions. Azerbaijan (Baku) ranks 260th. To minimize damage to the environment, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions must be kept below a certain level.
What Measures Should Be Taken?
By reducing the use of personal transportation, opting for public transport, or cycling in everyday life, we can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, by using water sparingly, we can produce less waste by reducing the consumption of packaged products. Instead of using natural gas, it is recommended to utilize alternative renewable energy sources such as bioenergy. Consequently, the amount paid for natural gas can be reduced by 70 percent annually.
Furthermore, it is necessary to replace the use of electricity with renewable sources such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric power. Give preference to recyclable products. Waste recycling is one of the most practical ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Separating paper, plastic, and glass waste and storing them in different places also makes a significant contribution to environmental protection. Choosing recycled products when purchasing clothing or textiles is also crucial for sustainability. In short, to put an end to climate change caused by global warming, it is essential to keep the environment clean, protect and increase the number of green areas, especially in large cities. We need to be more environmentally sensitive to leave future generations a cleaner and more habitable planet.
