montgomery county today
49
Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
There are several human produced
greenhouse gas emission sources in the
county. A majority of the emissions come
from electrical generation and other uses
of fuel for heating, industrial production,
transportation, waste disposal, agriculture,
and forestry. Though most sources are
directly a result of the combustion of
carbon fuel sources, increases in
greenhouse gas can result from loss of
trees, decomposition of waste, release of
certain volatile chemicals, and fertilizer.
In addition to human caused sources,
greenhouse gas is consistently produced
by nature.
Climate Change
Recently there has been growing concern about the rise in
greenhouse gas emissions and its impact on the world.
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide, are created naturally and by human
factors such as automobile emissions, tree loss, and energy
consumption. Once created, these gases combine with water
vapor to trap the sun’s energy in our atmosphere. Though
the greenhouse gas effect is important in sustaining a
habitable planet, recently excess greenhouse gases have
increased average temperatures around the globe. This will
result in a variety of changes to global temperatures, sea
levels, and weather patterns. Reducing greenhouse
emissions may limit the impact of some of these changes.
Yet even with a dramatic change in energy use and reduction
of greenhouse gas production, the impacts of elevated
greenhouse gases will cause climate changes over the next
several decades and perhaps centuries. Changes likely to
occur in Montgomery County include:
•
decreased agricultural production
•
more frequent extreme weather conditions such as
increased rainfall, flooding, and extreme heat
•
increased threats to public health from waterborne
diseases
•
changes in local habitat and natural conditions
•
potential human health impacts including respiratory
diseases
These changes will need to be examined in long-range
planning. At the same time, addressing climate change can
also create economic opportunities through green technology
investments. Montgomery County, with its diversified
economy and skilled technical labor force, is well positioned
to take advantage of worldwide demand for energy
conservation technology and equipment for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
FIGURE 42:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gases come from not just human activities, like driving a
car, but from agricultural uses as well.
Source:
