HOW DO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS IN NEW YORK

Emissions from burning fossil fuel significantly contribute to climate change in New York City. However, in the last 10 years there has been a 20% decline in CO2 from the commercial sector. On the other hand, greenhouse gases from the agricultural and commercial sectors in New York have increased significantly, up 15% over 10 years.

Examples of greenhouse gases include methane (which can be produced by livestock), carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and more. Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was used to analyze the emissions in each sector.

In the commercial sector, fossil fuels cause the majority of emissions. In the agricultural sector, methane from livestock causes the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, with a much lower percentage being caused by fuel combustion. Emissions caused by livestock and crop production from the agricultural sector could become more significant given population growth. A recent NYC.gov report projected a population growth of 9.1 million residents by 2030.

Greenhouse gases are widely talked about in relation to global temperatures, but local temperatures are significant as well. Data from the New York City EPA was used to analyze heat vulnerability in the state. Heat vulnerability data illustrates the severe changes in temperature in New York over recent years.

There are also factors such as the urban heat island effect, where some areas in a city have risen in temperature more than nearby areas. More people die from extreme heat in NYC and the USA than all other natural disasters combined. A small decrease in temperatures in these areas can help offset the effects of climate change (Environment and Health Data Portal 2021). Planting trees, shrubs, and grass may reduce local temperatures by up to 2 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This is significant considering that Central Park recorded an increase of 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit (F) between 1900 and 2013 (NASA, 2015).

It may be possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York by shifting from the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This study proposes a multi-pronged approach to managing the causes and effects of climate change. Future studies will analyze each sector and subsector to uncover overlooked trends in greenhouse gas emissions as well as temperature fluctuations.