Looking at the theory put forward that ‘Greenhouse Gases’ cause the Greenhouse Effect, by reducing our emissions of Greenhouse Gases, we can also reduce the Greenhouse Effect. With unlimited funds, however, we can reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gases produced by humans to an absolute minimum, if not eradicate their production completely.
Ways in which carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can be reduced with unlimited funds are:
- Buy up large blocks of land around the world, and plant lots of trees to soak up the existing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- Improve technology of cars, so that they do not release carbon monoxide. While ethanol as a fuel only reduces the vehicle emissions, perhaps technology can advance to a stage where there is an alternative that will not produce emissions – perhaps solar-powered cars? This way, we also do not release as much methane whilst drilling for natural gas and oil because our consumption of oil will fall drastically.
- Replace all cars in the world with solar-powered cars, fitted with batteries that can store energy absorbed but not yet used (i.e. the battery can charge up on a sunny day, then use reserves during a day with no sun).
- Encourage people around the world to use public transport instead of individually driving to work, and perhaps do this by building a more extensive and efficient public transport infrastructure in places which need this
- Replace coal with solar energy as the source of electricity – i.e. build solar energy farms around the world, and use this energy to produce electricity instead of burning coal
- Closed loop manufacturing – this way, not as much energy is needed to run factories.
The way in which we can completely eradicate chlorofluorocarbons is by synthesizing a new material. Originally, CFC’s were synthesized in response to a need for a new refrigerant, after there were some fatal accidents with the refrigerants used previously (ammonia and methyl chloride). Then the use of CFC’s spread to being used as propellents for aerosol sprays and as cleaning solvents. With research and innovation, surely a new material can be synthesized? Once this new material is synthesized, it can replace CFC’s. In this case, refrigerators and air-conditioning units around the world should be replaced.
In all cases, the firms, which manufacture products involving Greenhouse Gases in production, can be compensated for a break in production whilst machinery is being replaced, and the cost of machinery and training of staff to use the new machinery should also be covered.
A source of methane and nitrous oxide is the burning of biomass. This problem can be resolved if we supply people who use biomass as fuel with solar panels and batteries, i.e. replacing the energy source. If there is no sunlight available in individual locations, then connection to the country’s supply of solar electricity can be established.
Methane from landfills can be harnessed to provide energy, and thus is burnt off, not released into the atmosphere. Such technology already exists in the world, except the source of methane is artificial. We can reduce the emissions of methane into the atmosphere by harnessing methane all over the world.
As can be seen, with unlimited funds, it is relatively simple to solve the greenhouse effect. Because products (such as new machinery, new cars, new refrigerators, etc) will be provided for free to firms and individuals, there should be no social barriers to overcome.
Material from all the old refrigerators, cars, machinery, etc can be recycled to produce new products. Disposal of materials that cannot be recycled must be further considered.
