Carbon Emissions a Problem for YOU and ME! By Julie Peller Ph.D.

Green Junction

Pope Leo’s response to the recent international meeting on climate change (COP30) was “This (Paris Agreement) has delivered progress, but not enough. Hope and determination must be renewed, not only in words and aspirations but also in concrete actions.” He also stated, “creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat. One in three people lives in great vulnerability because of these climate changes. To them, climate change is not a distant threat, and to ignore these people is to deny our shared humanity.” “There is still time to keep the rise in global temperatures below 1.5°C (2.7° F), but the window is closing. As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift he entrusted to us.”

Slow progress has been documented since the original adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The Rhodium Group, an independent research organization, released a 2025 report showing the world has missed the 1.5 degree Celsius warming target (for 2100) and predicts warming in the range of 2.3 – 3.4 degrees Celsius by 2100. According to the report, the United States has not substantially altered/lowered its global emissions trajectory, while several other countries have improved. However, their future prediction for the US is optimistic. “We find the US is on track to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 26-41% in 2040 relative to 2005 levels. On the way to 2040, we estimate GHG emissions levels will decline 26-35% in 2035.” However, the country cannot return to mining more fossil fuels to reach these goals.

Most people do not view carbon emissions reductions as part of their responsibility; many people are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. Some basic ways individuals can reduce carbon emissions include: i) driving less, ii) using public transportation when its available, iii) flying less, iv) turning off lights and devices and unplugging devices, v) buying less, vi) supporting local farmers and businesses, vii) eating less meat, viii) composting food waste (non-protein based), ix) opting out of gas-powered devices when possible and x) voting for elected officials who support environmental and human health protections. Pope Leo’s statement is worth repeating: “As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift entrusted to us.”

Julie Peller, Ph.D., is an environmental chemist (Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University). She has been writing a weekly column, The Green Junction, for the past seven years and is helping to move the call of Laudato Si to action. Her research interests include advanced oxidation for aqueous solutions, water quality analyses, emerging contaminants, air quality analyses, challenges along the Lake Michigan shoreline (such as Cladophora, water, and sediment contaminants), and student and citizen participation in environmental work.