Earth’s climate fluctuates regularly, but the abnormal and problematic portion of climate change that is heavily discussed by scientists largely came about in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, industrialization was becoming more popular among European countries. Factories with their large machines ran on fossil fuels such as coal and oil. These manufacturing giants turned the areas around them black with soot, especially London; in the early 20th century, it was said that London could never see a clear day because of the factories there. Although this should have been a warning sign, science was limited at the time and people had no way of knowing about the effects of pollution. Because of this, the consistent burning of fossil fuels continued for decades afterwards.
In 1885, the first-ever automobile was manufactured in Germany. It was the world’s first car powered by an internal combustion engine. Although it only had three wheels, it was the ancestor of the millions of cars that people drive today across the world. Almost all of today’s cars run on gasoline. The vapors given off when gasoline is burned, such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, contribute to air pollution. Gasoline also produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that can become dangerous if its atmospheric levels become too high.
The new developments in technology were beneficial to Europe’s growing economy at the time, and beneficial to global culture. However, in the long run, this would lead to environmental problems that still grow in the present day. Although technological development is never bad, reversing its negative effects is one of the most productive things humans can do to protect the planet.
In 1885, the first-ever automobile was manufactured in Germany. It was the world’s first car powered by an internal combustion engine. Although it only had three wheels, it was the ancestor of the millions of cars that people drive today across the world. Almost all of today’s cars run on gasoline. The vapors given off when gasoline is burned, such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, contribute to air pollution. Gasoline also produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that can become dangerous if its atmospheric levels become too high.
The new developments in technology were beneficial to Europe’s growing economy at the time, and beneficial to global culture. However, in the long run, this would lead to environmental problems that still grow in the present day. Although technological development is never bad, reversing its negative effects is one of the most productive things humans can do to protect the planet.