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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].
Fossil fuels are a common means to produce electricity. When these types of fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In Utah, approximately 98% of electricity production comes from fossil fuel-based power plants (coal, natural gas, and crude oil) [1]. Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric power include transitioning to renewable energy sources, making power plants more efficient, reducing demand for electricity in homes and industry, and Carbon Capture Sequestration and Storage [2].[[br]]

Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Dioxide Emissions due to Electric Power by Year, Utah, 1980-2019

Data Source

U.S. Energy Information Administration, State Carbon Dioxide Emissions

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
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Fri, 29 March 2024 8:43:40 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Thu, 7 Jul 2022 08:28:59 MDT