Cause of air pollution
Answers
Burning fossil fuels
When we burn fossil fuels like coal, and gas to create electricity or power our cars, we release CO2 pollution into the atmosphere.
Australians are big producers of CO2 pollution compared to the rest of the world. Our level of CO2 pollution per person is nearly double the average of other developed nations and more than four times the world average.
Electricity generation is the main cause of carbon pollution in Australia as 73% of our electricity comes from burning coal and 13% from burning gas. The remaining 14% comes from renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar and wind, which do not emit carbon.
Reducing the amount of electricity generated from coal and gas, and increasing the amount of electricity from clean, renewable energy sources like solar and wind, means less carbon pollution is emitted. This is one of the main ways we can address global warming.
Global warming is caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, and farming.
Burning fossil fuels
When we burn fossil fuels like coal, and gas to create electricity or power our cars, we release CO2 pollution into the atmosphere.
Australians are big producers of CO2 pollution compared to the rest of the world. Our level of CO2 pollution per person is nearly double the average of other developed nations and more than four times the world average.
Electricity generation is the main cause of carbon pollution in Australia as 73% of our electricity comes from burning coal and 13% from burning gas. The remaining 14% comes from renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar and wind, which do not emit carbon.
Reducing the amount of electricity generated from coal and gas, and increasing the amount of electricity from clean, renewable energy sources like solar and wind, means less carbon pollution is emitted. This is one of the main ways we can address global warming.
A large coal power station in the UK with barbed wire in the foreground © Global Warming Images / WWF A large coal power station in the UK with barbed wire in the foreground © Global Warming Images / WWF
Deforestation
Plants play an important role in regulating the climate because they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen back into it. Forests and bushland act as carbon sinks and are a valuable means of keeping global warming to 1.5°C.
But humans clear vast areas of vegetation around the world for farming, urban and infrastructure development or to sell tree products such as timber and palm oil. When vegetation is removed or burnt, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2, contributing to global warming. Up to one-fifth of global greenhouse gas pollution comes from deforestation and forest degradation.
Preventing deforestation as well as planting trees, through reforestation and afforestation, are important actions in the fight against global warming.
1. Emissions From Industrial Plants and Manufacturing Activities
With the current rate of industrialization and increased manufacturing activities, high levels of smoke, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter are emitted into the air.
2. Combustion From Fossil Fuels
In the modern world, fossil fuel combustion is the biggest contributor to air pollution.
3. Farming Chemicals and Household Products
Use of household and farming chemicals produce considerable amounts of harmful foreign substances into the atmosphere and have the potential to cause air pollution.
4. In some cases, natural events can as well cause air pollution.
Examples of natural events that lead to air pollution include volcanic eruptions, whirlwinds, forest fires
5. Burning charcoal, wood, and crop waste release Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter into the atmosphere that potentially causes air pollution.
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