What is a Carbon Credit? July 25, 2016 A Carbon Credit is a form of emission reduction that plays into the cap and trade programs. It places a monetary amount on emitted carbon through the form of a credit. In a cap and trade program, a limit is placed on the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted by companies. The allowanced amount of carbon given to emitting businesses is in the form of credit that represents one metric tonne of carbon. — Other…

What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)? July 25, 2016 Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technique to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through storing it underground. It has been popular in the energy sector, where fossil fuels are still used to create electricity, though industries like cement and steel production have also shown some attraction to it. In capturing and storing carbon, producers first separate CO2 from the gases emitted during production. The CO2 is then transported via pipeline or ship for safe…

What is a Cap and Trade System? July 25, 2016 A Cap and Trade System is a trading system that is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this system, a limit or cap is set on emissions and is then decreased by small amounts at a time. Companies that produce fewer emissions can sell off some of their emissions allowance to other businesses. During the 1980s, the United States reduced sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide, the key ingredients in acid rain, by using these…

What is Bioremediation? July 11, 2016 Bioremediation is cleaning up polluted areas through biological means. Bacteria, fungi, plants and other organisms break down contaminants or store them in their tissue for eventual disposal. It has become a more popular choice for the removal of traditional methods due to its less costly nature. The use of Bioremediation is most noticeable in the cases of oil spills. When a spill occurs, microbes that are native to the area are the first to react. During the Deepwater Horizon…

What is the Biosphere? July 11, 2016 Coined by Eduard Suess in 1875, the biosphere is a component of Earth’s system that is made up of living organisms and the dead organic matter they produce. The Earth is made up of different spheres: – Atmosphere: the layer of air that is above land – Lithosphere: Solid surface layer (land). – Hydrosphere: All water, including what is found on the surface, ground and air. These spheres are home to a wide variety of organisms that rely…