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The warmer, greener Arctic and greenhouse gas

April 16, 2025 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

About 15% of the Northern Hemisphere is covered by permafrost. Permafrost is soil and sediment that has remained frozen for long periods of time, in some cases as much as 700,000 years. It contains large amounts of dead biomass that has accumulated over millennia and hasn’t fully decomposed. Therefore, permafrost is an immense carbon sink.

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet and, as a result, thawing permafrost is becoming a carbon source. As warming continues, ice is melting, and vegetation is spreading. A new study, published in Nature Climate Change, looked at the state of the Arctic and boreal north from the period 1990 until 2020. The study found that although half of the Arctic region has been growing greener, only 12% of those green areas are actually taking up more carbon. For one thing, the growth of forests means that there is more fuel for wildfires which are increasingly common.

A study of lakes in West Greenland found that thousands of crystal blue lakes have turned brown during record heat spells. Runoff from melting permafrost made the lakes opaque killing off plankton that absorb carbon dioxide. Meanwhile, plankton that release carbon dioxide multiplied. So, these lakes went from being carbon sinks to being carbon sources.

As the northern latitudes warm, ice and permafrost are melting, vegetation is spreading, and the region is becoming a source of heat-trapping gas after having been a place where carbon has been locked away for thousands of years. According to the Nature Climate Change study, roughly 40% of the Arctic is now a source of carbon dioxide.

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Warmer, Greener Arctic Becoming a Source of Heat-Trapping Gas

Photo, posted October 14, 2024, courtesy of Christoph Strässler via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Where do states get their electricity?

September 3, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

How the United States produces its electricity has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Coal used to be the dominant source of power in this country, but natural gas surpassed it in 2016, and coal’s share has been shrinking ever since. Fossil fuel still generates the majority of America’s electricity, but renewable power is increasing its contribution all the time.

On a state-by-state basis, there are very large variations in the mix of power sources. Ten states still get their largest amount of power from coal, but this is down from 32 states in 2001. Four states have hydroelectric power as their largest source, including Vermont which gets more than half of its power that way.

Texas produces more electricity than any other state by a wide margin. It’s not just because it has a large population. It is because it uses huge amounts of power to refine petroleum products. Coal produces only 13% of Texas’ electricity and the state is by far the country’s largest producer of wind power.

New York gets nearly half of its power from natural gas, 21% from hydroelectric power, and 21% from nuclear power. Wind and solar power are still small, but both are growing in the state.

When people try to assess the climate impact of driving electric cars, based on the origins of the electricity they use to power the car, the results can vary dramatically based on what state they live in. Nationwide, electricity is getting cleaner and greener, but the process is by no means uniform across the country.

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How Does Your State Make Electricity?

Photo, posted March 17, 2021, courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Lower carbon emissions in the U.S.

February 7, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

American greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 fell by 1.9%. In total, U.S. emissions have now fallen by over 17% since 2005. The largest factor in the decline has been the reduction in the burning of coal to produce electricity. Coal-fired generation has fallen to its lowest level in half a century.

There was a huge drop in emissions at the start of the covid pandemic when large segments of the economy shut down. But then there was a sharp rebound in emissions in the following two years when economic activity resumed. But over the long term, American emissions have been trending downward as both cars and power plants have become cleaner and greener.

The decline in emissions is a good thing but hasn’t been nearly enough to meet the nation’s goals for trying to slow down global warming. The U.S. has a goal of reducing emissions by 2030 to half of the 2005 level. To achieve that goal, annual emissions would have to fall more than three times faster than they did last year for the rest of the decade.

The emissions data used for the current assessment included those from transportation, electricity generation, industry, and buildings. It did not include pollution from agriculture, which accounts for about 10% of the nation’s greenhouse gases.

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act provided record amounts of money for low-emissions technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, nuclear reactors, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuels. The full impact of these federal investments has yet to be seen, since many companies are still ramping up their efforts in clean energy. How quickly emissions will fall as these efforts come to fruition remains to be seen.

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U.S. Carbon Emissions Fell in 2023 as Coal Use Tumbled to New Lows

Photo, posted May 17, 2020, courtesy of Frans Berkelaar via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Sustainable New Year’s resolutions

December 29, 2023 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Every year, millions of people around the world make resolutions to spark positive change in the new year. Popular resolutions include improving health and fitness, traveling more, spending less, and so on. With 2024 just around the corner, here are six resolution ideas to reduce our climate impact:

Shop More Sustainably. Choose eco-friendly brands and products with minimal environmental impact, including locally-produced goods and reusable items whenever possible.

Switch To Clean Energy. Purchase green power, install renewable energy systems to generate electricity, or switch to renewable resources for home and water heating and cooling needs.

Reduce Food Waste. Food waste is a significant global issue with environmental, economic, and social implications. In the U.S., an estimated 30-40% of the total food supply is never eaten. Meal plan and only shop for what you need. And freeze any leftovers.

Adopt A More Plant-Based Diet. Transition to a more plant-based diet in order to shrink the ecological footprint of food production. Resource-intensive animal-based foods like meat, dairy, and eggs are one of the chief contributors to climate change.

Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Transportation. Opt for eco-friendly transportation and energy-efficient practices in order to lower emissions. Examples include driving a battery-electric car and utilizing public transportation.

Get Involved In Conservation Advocacy. Support and engage in environmental causes, and help promote conservation and sustainable practices.

As we ring in the new year, let’s raise our glasses to a cleaner and greener 2024.

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Photo, posted August 3, 2018, courtesy of Ella Olsson via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Cleaner And Greener Steel | Earth Wise

August 14, 2023 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Producing construction materials like concrete and steel is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Between 7 and 8% of emissions are due to steelmaking alone, which has been done pretty much the same way for more than a century.

Iron ore is smelted with high-carbon fuel and is turned into so-called pig iron in a blast furnace, which creates the key raw material for the steel industry. The process uses huge amounts of energy (still often generated by burning fossil fuels) and releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

The Department of Energy is sponsoring 40 projects at universities, national laboratories and companies in 21 states aimed at reducing industrial carbon pollution. Ten of those projects are focused on decarbonizing iron and steel. These initiatives are part of the overall effort to move the nation towards a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

A team headed by Case Western Reserve University that includes Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the University of Arizona, and steel company Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has developed a promising new zero-carbon, electrochemical process for producing steel.

The process is a novel molten salt electrolysis method that is low-cost, capable of achieving high rates, and uses environmentally benign chemicals. The process does not use carbon at all. Using molten salts, electrochemistry can be performed at moderately high temperatures rather than the temperatures of nearly 3000 degrees Fahrenheit used for conventional steelmaking. The goal is to enable steel production that is both economically viable at an industrial scale and that is environmentally sustainable.

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Case Western Reserve leading research to develop zero-carbon, electrochemical process to produce iron metal as part of U.S. Department of Energy effort

Photo, posted January 11, 2017, courtesy of Kevin Casey Fleming via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Electric Cars In Norway | Earth Wise

June 12, 2023 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

We are at a relatively early stage of the electric car revolution. EV sales are increasing rapidly, but they still comprise only a small fraction of the cars on American roads. So, there is still lots of speculation and argument about how things will actually work when a large fraction of cars are electric. But there is at least one place where one doesn’t have to speculate: Norway.

Last year, 80% of new-car sales in Norway were EVs. That country is essentially an observatory for figuring out what the electrification of vehicles will mean for the environment, workers, and life in general. In fact, sales of internal combustion cars in Norway will end in 2025.

Based on Norway’s experience, electric vehicles bring benefits and none of the dire consequences that some critics predict. The transition isn’t problem-free. There have been unreliable chargers and long waits during periods of high demand. Auto dealers and retailers have had to adapt to the changes in their businesses. The pecking order of car brands has changed dramatically making Tesla the best-selling brand and marginalizing long-established carmakers like Renault and Fiat.

But in the bigger picture, the air in Oslo, the capital of Norway, is measurably cleaner. The city is quieter as noisy gasoline and diesel vehicles gradually disappear. Oslo’s greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 30% since 2009. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been mass unemployment among gas station workers, and the electrical grid has not collapsed.

Norway is perhaps 10 years ahead of us with respect to electric cars. There are still problems to solve, and difficulties to overcome, but so far, it looks like it will all turn out well.

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In Norway, the Electric Vehicle Future Has Already Arrived

Photo, posted October 15, 2018, courtesy of Mario Duran-Ortiz via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Renewables Will Overtake Coal | Earth Wise

January 17, 2023 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency, worldwide growth in renewable power capacity is set to double in the next five years. In fact, by 2027, the world will add as much renewable power as it did over the previous 20 years.

Of particular significance is that renewables are going to overtake coal as the largest source of electricity generation by early 2025.

The global energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine has had multiple effects on the evolution of the energy system. While the war has driven a resurgence in fossil fuel consumption in Europe in order to replace gas from Russia, that resurgence is expected to be short-lived. Instead, the current energy crisis may turn out to be an historic turning point toward a cleaner and more secure energy system.

Soaring fossil-fuel prices triggered by the war have caused many countries to respond by embracing wind turbines, solar panels, nuclear power plants, hydrogen fuels, electric vehicles, and electric heat pumps. In the US, Congress approved more than $370 billion in spending for clean energy technologies as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. China, India, South Korea, and Japan have all increased their national targets for renewable power. However, heating and cooling buildings with renewable power remains a sector needing larger improvement, according to the energy agency.

Overall, the expansion of renewable power over the next five years is now projected to happen much faster than what was projected just one year ago. The new IEA report revised last year’s forecast for renewables growth by 30% as a result of the introduction of new policies by many of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters.

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Renewables Will Overtake Coal by Early 2025, Energy Agency Says

Photo, posted March 8, 2021, courtesy of Stanze via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

A Green New Year | Earth Wise

December 30, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Every year, millions of people around the world make resolutions in hopes of sparking positive changes in the new year. Popular resolutions include improving health and fitness, traveling more, spending less, and so on. With the New Year just around the corner, here are seven resolutions we all could make that would collectively have a major impact on the planet:

1) Eat less meat. Resource-intensive animal-based foods like meat, dairy, and eggs are one of the chief contributors to climate change.

2) Get a home energy audit. It’s a great way to understand your home’s energy footprint and discover ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

3) Buy local whenever possible. Shopping locally supports the local economy and dramatically cuts down on the carbon emissions associated with shipping.

4) Carry reusable shopping bags on errands. While disposable shopping bags are convenient, they are difficult to recycle and are often thrown away.

5) Air dry your laundry whenever possible. Drying clothes outside or using an indoor drying rack can save money and energy. Americans spend about $9 billion a year on electricity to dry clothing.

6) Purchase used or pre-owned items. The market for second-hand items is booming, making it possible to purchase pretty much anything you want at thrift stores or online.

7) Bring a reusable water bottle everywhere. According to the EPA, Americans throw away enough plastic bottles each year to circle the earth five times. Carrying your own bottle helps reduce this waste and will save you money.

As we ring in the new year this weekend, let’s raise our glasses to a cleaner and greener 2023.

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10 Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions!

New Year’s Resolutions

Photo, posted December 31, 2014, courtesy of Doug Anderson via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

The Carbon Footprint Of Electric Vehicles | Earth Wise

November 29, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Electric vehicles are widely known to be the environmentally friendly alternative to internal combustion-based cars. But there are skeptics who argue that EVs actually have a larger carbon footprint than nonelectric vehicles. The argument is that the manufacturing and disposal of vehicle batteries is very carbon intensive. They also point to the reliance on coal to produce the electricity that powers the cars.

These claims have led to multiple studies in the form of life-cycle analyses comparing the amount of greenhouse gases created by the production, use, and disposal of a battery electric vehicle to that associated with a gasoline-powered car of a similar size.

In short, the studies have found that while it is true that the production of a battery electric vehicle results in more emissions than a gasoline-powered one, this difference disappears as the vehicle is driven.

According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan and financed by the Ford Motor Company, the emissions equation evens out in 1.4-1.5 years for sedans, 1.6-1.9 years for S.U.V.s, and about 1.6 years for pickup trucks.

Emissions from driving come from burning gas in the nonelectric vehicles and from the generation of electricity used by the battery-powered cars. In the current average power mix across the U.S., driving an EV results in a 35% reduction in emissions. However, it varies tremendously by location. There are some places with very dirty power and some with very clean power. But of the more than 3,000 counties in the U.S., only 78 end up with higher emissions from electric cars. Of course, as the electric grid gets greener, the advantages of electric cars only become greater.

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E.V.s Start With a Bigger Carbon Footprint. But That Doesn’t Last.

Photo, posted May 21, 2022, courtesy of Ivan Radic via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Hydrogen-Powered Transport In Britain | Earth Wise

November 27, 2020 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

The first hydrogen-powered train in the UK had its first mainline runs at the end of September. The train, known as HydroFLEX, was developed under a project headed by the University of Birmingham under the UK government’s Department for Transport.

Hydrogen-powered trains do not emit harmful gases but rather use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. The technology in the HydroFLEX train will be available by 2023 to retrofit existing diesel-powered trains and thereby de-carbonize the rail network and make train travel greener and more efficient.

The UK has ambitious plans for the use of hydrogen technology. The Department of Transport plans to publish a master plan in January that will outline how green hydrogen could power buses, trucks, rail, maritime, and aviation transport across the UK.

The HydroFLEX trial is taking place in Tees Valley in northeastern England and the plan is for that area to become a Hydrogen Transport Hub that will include the world’s largest versatile hydrogen refueling facility. The plans for Tees Valley involve academia, industry, and government participants. The next stages of the HydroFLEX project are well underway with the University of Birmingham developing a hydrogen and battery-powered module that can be fitted underneath a train to allow for more space for passengers in train cars.

The UK government’s Hydrogen for Transport Program is also funding a green hydrogen refueling station and 19 hydrogen-powered garbage trucks in Glasgow, Scotland.

The UK plans to switch to a net zero economy and their current program increasingly embraces hydrogen technology to provide more sustainable, greener forms of transportation.

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UK embraces hydrogen-fueled future as transport hub and train announced

Photo, posted May 15, 2019, courtesy of Jeremy Segrott via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Electric Cars And The Environment | Earth Wise

April 20, 2020 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

There are articles in the media all the time questioning whether electric cars are really better for the environment than those powered by fossil fuels. The usual argument is that once emissions from vehicle production and electricity generation are taken into account, electric cars are no greener than gas cars, or even worse for the environment. Of course, these arguments tend to be made by oil companies and their supporters.

A new study by three European universities looked at this very issue in detail. They carried out a life-cycle assessment in which they not only calculated greenhouse gas emissions generated when using cars, but also in the production chain and waste processing.

Their conclusions are that under current conditions, driving an electric car is better for the climate than conventional gasoline cars in 95% of the world. The only exceptions are places like Poland, where almost all electricity comes from coal-fired plants.

Average lifetime emissions associated with electric cars are up to 70% lower than gas cars in countries like Sweden and France and about 30% lower in England.

It is important to note than in a few years, even inefficient electric cars will be less emission-intensive than gas cars because electricity generation is becoming less carbon-intensive all the time. The study projects that by 2050, half of the world’s cars will be electric resulting in carbon dioxide emission reductions of 1.5 billion tons.

The study states that the idea that electric cars could increase emissions is a myth. The detailed study has run the numbers for all around the world and even in the worst-case scenario, there would be a reduction in emissions in almost all cases.

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