Justė: Welcome to our podcast on net zero, the concept of balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. My name is Justė. Today we have a discussion with my classmates Ugnius and Emilis. Emilis Can you explain what net zero is?
Emilis: “Net zero” is defined as a state in which the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by human activity are balanced out by removing an equivalent amount of GHGs from the atmosphere, resulting in no additional net emissions.
Ugnius: This is typically achieved through a combination of reducing emissions through more efficient and sustainable practices and technologies, as well as actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through natural or artificial means, such as afforestation or carbon capture and storage.
Justė: “Net zero” is aimed at reducing the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius and stopping the worst effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather conditions, and loss of biodiversity.
Emilis: To achieve net zero, countries, businesses, and individuals need to reduce their emissions as much as possible, for example by switching to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and reducing waste.
Ugnius: Any remaining emissions can then be offset through activities such as planting trees or investing in carbon capture technology to remove an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Justė: For instance, the company implementing the net zero strategy is IKEA, which has set climate positive targets to use 100% renewable energy and invest in reforestation sustainable materials in their products by 2030.
Emilis: Net zero targets have been set by a growing number of countries around the world, aiming to achieve net zero emissions by the mid of the 21st century or earlier. It is considered a critical step in avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change, such as more extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels, or food and water shortages.
Ugnius: As an example, we can take the city of Copenhagen, whose authorities and people are working to become the world’s first carbon neutral city by 2025 and surge the use of renewable energy, promote sustainable transportation, and invest in carbon capture and storage.
Justė: By making certain changes in their daily routines, individual people can also contribute significantly to achieving net zero targets.
Emilis: To reduce the carbon footprint, for instance, households can reduce energy consumption; turn off lights and appliances when not in use, use energy-efficient bulbs, and reduce heating and cooling. This will lead to lower energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Ugnius: Also, choosing low-carbon and public transportation, walking, cycling, or carpooling instead of driving alone can help to reduce emissions from transportation. Eating a plant-based diet by reducing meat and dairy consumption, or choosing plant-based alternatives, can help to minimize greenhouse gas emissions produced by the food industry. Recycling, composting, and reducing food waste can all help to control greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste management.
Justė: Achieving net zero requires a global effort. It is a long-term goal which is impossible to achieve without international collaboration and investments in new environmentally friendly technologies. Working together can help create a more sustainable future for all of us.
Emilis: Thanks for listening.
Music: Mindseye – Meliora (Instrumental edit)
Lorenzo: Welcome to a new episode of our podcast about higher temperatures and less water. We are three Italian students from Guido Donegani school in Crotone. Today we’re going to talk about a subtopic, that is to say “ CO2 in our products”. Hello! I’m Lorenzo. I’d like to ask Alessandro for some information about it.
Alessandro: It’ll be my pleasure. Let’s make it simple: let’s analyze the percentage of CO2 emissions from the creation to the use and disposal of a product .
Lorenzo: It is somehow similar to the Life Cycle Assessment ?or LCA for short? It considers all the impacts and all is needed for a product to be made, during its use, and at the end of its life?
Alessandro: Yes, but LCA takes into account all the raw materials, the energy, the waste production, the emissions and so on; for the CO2 footprint, we are only considering CO2 emissions, or, CO2 equivalents?
Serena: What do you mean by CO2 equivalents? Hi, I’m Serena, by the way.
Alessandro: Well, is not only the CO2 that, when present in the atmosphere, can increase the greenhouse effect, and so the Earth’s temperature. Other gases like methane or nitrous oxides have a certain “Global Warming Potential”
Serena: Oh, I see, so the CO2 equivalent for a certain amount of gas, is the amount of CO2 that would have the same effect in terms of global warming.
Alessando: Yes, that’s right
Lorenzo: Ok, fine, let’s have a look at some data after the break. Hello are you ready to listen to some data? Do you know how much CO2 is released in the atmosphere during the process of 1 kilo of minced meat? If it is beaf, it is about 30 kg or more of CO2 equivalent.
Serena: Oh, that’s a lot!
Lorenzo: And with “during the process”, you mean all that is required, from the forage to the animals, the transportation, the cooking and even the disposal.
Alessandro: Visiting a website produces 1.76 grams of CO2 for every page every second. if 100.000 (one hundred thousand) people scroll on the website in a month, it’ll produce 2,1 tons of CO2.
Serena: Do you know that even fast fashion is guilty, very guilty?
Lorenzo: How interesting! What do you mean? What are you talking about, Serena?
Serena: I’m talking about the massive production of clothing using economic materials. It’s very cheap for consumers, but also for the producers, because such clothes are not made in a sustainable way! Also with a cheap clothes there is no stimulation for the final consumer to practice “reduce”. Business Insider considers all this as responsible for the 10% of carbon emissions in our globe.
Lorenzo: ohhhhhh We have to do something to stop or minimize as much as possible. What could we possibly do?
Alessandro: I won’t buy such clothes anymore.
Serena: Me too.What else can we do?
Alessandro: One possible solution could be the adoption of the “R” theory of reuse, reduce, recycle.
Lorenzo: This fight isn’t a “one man, against an army”. There are so many people and scientists who study and manage lifestyles and support the survivability of our planet, but we are also responsible for preserving the Earth. Thanks Alex and Serena and the listeners, for this useful and meaningful conversation. Bye!
Person 1: Hi everyone, before we begin we would like to congratulate you on coming to the third podcast of this series. Our names are Rino Bago, Dominik Ivan Sulić, Ivan Bartol and Sven Matić. The title of this podcast is “The Great Thirst” and today we’ll be talking about the dangers of desertification, a topic that’s becoming increasingly relevant as the world’s population grows and more land is being used for agriculture and other human activities.
Person 2: That’s right, desertification is a serious issue that’s affecting many regions around the world. It’s defined as land degradation in dry regions due to human activities, such as overgrazing and deforestation, and also due to natural causes such as droughts.
Person 1: And unfortunately, it’s not just the dry regions that are affected. Desertification can occur in any region that’s susceptible to land degradation, including coastal areas and even tropical regions. The effects of desertification are far-reaching and can have a major impact on the environment and local communities.
Person 2: Yes, when land becomes desertified, it can no longer support agriculture, leading to food shortages and famine. This can also displace local communities who rely on the land for their livelihoods. In addition to these immediate effects, desertification can also contribute to a decline in biodiversity and the loss of important habitats for wildlife.
Person 1: And it’s not just the immediate effects we must worry about. Desertification can also contribute to climate change by releasing carbon into the atmosphere and reducing the land’s ability to absorb carbon. This can lead to a vicious cycle of land degradation, increased carbon emissions, and further climate change. This can have serious consequences for the entire planet and put even more pressure on our already overburdened ecosystems.
Person 2: Absolutely, and it’s important to note that desertification is not just a problem in developing countries. It’s a global issue that requires a coordinated effort from governments, organizations, and individuals to address. To prevent desertification, we need to take a proactive approach and implement measures to conserve the land, such as sustainable farming practices, reforestation, and the protection of natural resources.
Person 1: And it’s not just the responsibility of governments and large organizations to take action. As individuals, we can also play a role by reducing our carbon footprint, supporting sustainable practices, and educating ourselves about the dangers of desertification. Whether it’s reducing our water usage, choosing to eat less meat, or supporting organizations that work to combat desertification, there are many ways we can all make a difference.
Person 2: Exactly. And we should also be advocating for greater investment in the research and development of new technologies that can help prevent desertification and restore degraded land. This includes everything from new drought-resistant crops to innovative farming practices and reforestation initiatives.
Person 1: Exactly. It’s time for us to take the threat of desertification seriously and take action before it’s too late. Thank you for listening to the “Green Planet” podcast, and until next time, stay green.
We are Anisei Andrei, Kalusi Roland, Szabo Dora and Karsai Reka Tamara from the Romanian group. In todays podcast, we’ll discuss about carbon sequestration, a method of storing carbon dioxide to keep it from entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
It sounds intriguing but what does it all mean?
Basically, it is one method of reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere with the goal of slowing global climate change. Long-term carbon storage in plants, soils, geologic formations, and the ocean. Carbon sequestration occurs naturally as well as a result of anthropogenic activities, and it typically refers to the storage of carbon that has the immediate potential to become carbon dioxide gas. Thus, carbon sequestration is the process of removing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
That’s interesting. What kind of consequences does it have? Could you elaborate on that?
Carbon dioxide and methane are two examples of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. These are produced, for example, when coal is burned or gasoline is used to heat a building. Furthermore, the clearing of forests and other land can emit carbon dioxide. Methane emissions are primarily caused by waste landfills. Among the major emitters are energy, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use. Climate change in its current form includes both the effects of global warming and the planet’s normal climate patterns. While climate change has occurred, the current changes are much more severe and are not the result of natural causes. Instead, they are caused by the emission of pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide and methane.
How does carbon sequestration work and why is it important?
Carbon sequestration, which is the process of absorbing, extracting, and storing CO2 from the earth’s atmosphere, is a crucial way to get rid of carbon from the atmosphere. This is essential because a large portion of the CO2 that humans emit into the atmosphere (about 45%) remains in the atmosphere and significantly contributes to global warming. Carbon sequestration can prevent additional emissions that contribute to global warming.
What methods of carbon sequestration are there?
Geological or biological processes can be used to sequester carbon. Additionally, while it is promoted artificially through a variety of biological and landform testing methods, it also exists naturally in the environment on a large scale.
One of the most promising technologies for CO2 sequestration is known as “carbon capture and storage” or CCS. This involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions at the source, such as a power plant, and then transporting and storing it underground. CCS has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions from power generation and heavy industry. Could you tell us a bit more about these innovative technologies?
While CCS and other sequestration methods show promise, they are still in the early stages of development and deployment. Additionally, the cost of implementing these technologies can be high, and there are concerns about the long-term safety and security of stored carbon dioxide. Ultimately, a combination of CO2 reduction and sequestration strategies will be necessary to effectively combat climate change. We must continue to research and develop new technologies, while also implementing policies and regulations that encourage the adoption of sustainable practices.
Thank you for tuning in to the ” CO2 reduction and sequestration.” podcast. Join us next time as we continue our discussion on the frontlines of environmental conservation.
Italy: Lorenzo Sansone, Serena Leto, Alessandro Bevilacqua
Romania: Roland Kalusi, Dóra Szabó, Réka-Tamara Karsai, Andrei Anisei
Lithuania: Justė Ambrulevičiūtė, Ugnius Smeidžiūnas, Emilis Narbutas
Croatia: Rino Bago, Dominik Ivan Sulić, Ivan Barto, Sven Matić
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