Pollution
On September 15, 2015, leaders of multiple cities including Los Angeles and Beijing, announced they would commit to improve the pollution. The promises of 11 cities in China will eliminate 1.2 gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, which is about the amount of carbon dioxide that Japan or Brazil releases a year. In addition, American cities vowed to eliminate coal-fired power and other activities that release large amounts of pollution into the atmosphere.
Last year, both China and the United States announced how much their target amount of emissions was. The United States hoped to cut down emissions by 26 to 28 percent below the levels in 2005 by 2015 and China to peak emission growth by 2030. White House senior adviser, Brian Deese, stated that both China and the USA, the world's two largest emitters, would try to reach the upper end of their targets. He also added, "Both countries are making best efforts to get to ambitious ranges." American states and cities are making new pledges. California will cut emissions 80 to 90 percent below 1990 levels by midcentury, or 2050. Seattle vowed to become carbon neutral by that same year.
This makes me really happy because people are finally starting to take the carbon dioxide problem seriously. They're trying to cut down the emission of greenhouse gases, and it seems like they're really trying. Like Deese said, “This will show the two largest emitters in the world are taking seriously the commitments to meet their ambitious goals." This is a step in the right direction, but more countries should try to join in. If the whole planet worked together, then we could really improve the pollution and create a better planet to live in.
Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/city-cuts-eliminate-as-much-global-warming-pollution-as-japan-produces/
Article in source written by Lisa Friedman on September 15, 2015
Last year, both China and the United States announced how much their target amount of emissions was. The United States hoped to cut down emissions by 26 to 28 percent below the levels in 2005 by 2015 and China to peak emission growth by 2030. White House senior adviser, Brian Deese, stated that both China and the USA, the world's two largest emitters, would try to reach the upper end of their targets. He also added, "Both countries are making best efforts to get to ambitious ranges." American states and cities are making new pledges. California will cut emissions 80 to 90 percent below 1990 levels by midcentury, or 2050. Seattle vowed to become carbon neutral by that same year.
This makes me really happy because people are finally starting to take the carbon dioxide problem seriously. They're trying to cut down the emission of greenhouse gases, and it seems like they're really trying. Like Deese said, “This will show the two largest emitters in the world are taking seriously the commitments to meet their ambitious goals." This is a step in the right direction, but more countries should try to join in. If the whole planet worked together, then we could really improve the pollution and create a better planet to live in.
Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/city-cuts-eliminate-as-much-global-warming-pollution-as-japan-produces/
Article in source written by Lisa Friedman on September 15, 2015