Health Indicator Report of Climate Change: Greenhouse Gases
The design and layout of Utah cities and neighborhoods have a substantial effect on the health of all Utahns. Urban sprawl, inadequate public transportation, and energy-inefficient buildings not only affect human health but also have a distinct impact on climate change through the generation of greenhouse gas emissions.
More greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide, will disrupt the balance between energy absorbed and energy emitted, causing greater amounts of heat to be trapped at the Earth's surface and ultimately increasing surface temperatures. Excess carbon dioxide emissions is strongly linked to human activities, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels. In fact, most greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from energy use. Within the United States, carbon dioxide emissions from petroleum and natural gas represent 82% of the total man-made greenhouse gas emissions [1].
When industries make products, they can release greenhouse gases as part of the production process. Greenhouse gas emissions from the Industrial Sector has been divided into two categories: direct and indirect emissions [1].
The EPA defines direct emissions as greenhouse gases that are "produced by burning fuel for power or heat, through chemical reactions, and from leaks from industrial processes or equipment. Most direct emissions come from the consumption of fossil fuels for energy. A smaller amount, roughly a third, come from leaks from natural gas and petroleum systems, the use of fuels in production (e.g., petroleum products used to make plastics), and chemical reactions during the production of chemicals, iron and steel, and cement." [1]
The EPA defines indirect emissions as greenhouse gases that are "produced by burning fossil fuel at a power plant to make electricity, which is then used by an industrial facility to power industrial buildings and machinery." [1][[br]]
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Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Industrial Sector by Year, Utah, 1980-2019
Data Source
U.S. Energy Information Administration, State Carbon Dioxide Emissions- Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions from All Energy Sectors by Year, Utah, 1980-2019
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Sector (Residential and Commercial) and Year, Utah, 1980-2019
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions due to Transportation by Year, Utah, 1980-2019
- Carbon Dioxide Emissions due to Electric Power by Year, Utah, 1980-2019
Definition
Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide, all of which play an important role in regulating the Earth's temperature. These gases help create the greenhouse effect, a process in which greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation from the sun and contain the heat in the atmosphere.Numerator
Carbon dioxide emissions (as measured in millions of metric tons).Denominator
Not Applicable
Page Content Updated On 05/20/2022,
Published on 07/07/2022