Clean energy can limit the effects of greenhouse gases

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As efforts to minimize the effects of greenhouse gases continue across the United States and the world, we continue to see the effects of those gases on Earth. Our planet continues to warm near Earth's surface.

Many of these gases are released by humans primarily from burning fossil fuels. The two biggest contributors to this problem are carbon dioxide and methane.

Carbon dioxide is colorless and non-flammable. It's an important part of Earth's air. CO2 is one part carbon and two parts oxygen.

Methane, also colorless, is a potent greenhouse gas produced naturally by decomposing organic matter. Agriculture and fossil fuel extraction are two ways methane is released. Methane is one part carbon and four parts hydrogen.

Climatologists with Climate Central show that as the amount of carbon dioxide increases, so, too, does the temperature. They suggest these numbers could increase beyond 2024.

Carbon dioxide, in partnership with methane gas and levels of nitrous oxide, lead to the dangerous warming that takes place on the planet.

We see this in Central Texas through the hotter-than-average summers (more 100° days than normal) and even warmer than normal autumns. To emphasize this point you need only look at October 2024 which had 29 days of above-normal temperatures, including a high of 101° on the 13th. The Mean Temperature of 78.2° is 6.6° above average.

Are greenhouse gases all bad? No. If there were none of these gases, Earth's energy gleaned from the sun would radiate back into space leading to Earth's being too cold. Earth would not be able to support life.

But an increase in these gases is likely trapping too much dangerous heat. This increase is due to the burning of fossil fuels including coal, oil, and natural gas, including methane gas. Lowering the amount of these fossil fuels would help to mitigate the amount of that heat.

What is happening now is an increase in the three greenhouse gases that are driven by humans. Climate Central statistics indicate that, since 1850, there has been more than a 47% increase in carbon dioxide, a whopping 156% increase in methane gas, and a 23% increase in nitrous oxide.

These increases, per Climate Central, have led to a 2.9°F increase in the Earth's temperature since 1850.

What are the sectors driving these increases? Transportation accounts for 28% of this country's emissions followed closely behind by electric power at 25% and industry at 23%.

In Texas, Industry accounts for 41% of the top emitting greenhouse gas sectors, followed by transportation (23%), electricity (22%) and agriculture (7%).

We know that efforts are ongoing to try and minimize these harmful emissions. A blog I recently wrote identified various sources of clean energy to help in this area. Solar power and wind power were identified as two of the highest clean energy sources not only in Texas but for much of the country. Another source of clean energy can be found in zero-emission vehicles.

It's happening not only in Texas and the United States but also in countries across the globe. Low-cost, low-carbon sources supporting clean energy options may provide some with a reason to take a path away from fossil fuels.