Major companies need to reduce carbon emissions or become carbon neutral to make the planet sustainable.

— Staff writer

An excess of carbon dioxide along with other greenhouse gases is harming our atmosphere. This phenomenon is known as global climate change. The effects of climate change include stronger storms, more forest fires and more droughts. These occurrences are damaging the property and lives of countless people around the world.

We are living in an era where we have the information and tools to reduce global climate change. Government organizations and businesses need to implement strategies to decrease the amount of greenhouse emissions they release into the air every year. These entities also have the option of becoming carbon neutral. By becoming carbon neutral, they are in a state where the amount of carbon dioxide they produce is equal to their carbon savings.

Techniques companies utilize to achieve the level of carbon neutrality could be by planting trees or remove carbon dioxide from the air. The goal here is to attain a zero carbon footprint.

An example of a fuel that comes close to a carbon zero footprint is biofuel. Energy generated from raw plant and animal byproducts is called bioenergy. The carbon dioxide absorbed by plants is close to the carbon dioxide released when the biofuel is burned.

Becoming carbon neutral is not a simple objective to accomplish. Governments and businesses have to explore the tradeoffs that come with being environment-friendly. However, if strategies are implemented carefully, reducing carbon emissions will not only save ourselves but will save money in the long run as well.