Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric

This study presents an experimental investigation into the effects of running biodiesel fuel blends on conventional diesel engines. Bio fuels provide a way to produce fuels without redesigning any of the engine technology present today, yet allowing for green house emissions to decrease. Bio-diesel is one of these types of emerging bio-fuels, which has an immediate alternative fuel aspect to it, while providing a decrease in green house emissions, as well as a solution to recycling used Waste Vegetable Oils which are other wise disposed. This study shows how by blending bio-diesel with petroleum diesel at intervals of B5, B10, B15, and B20 decrease green house emissions can significantly while maintaining similar performance output and efficiency with respect to 100% petroleum diesel.

Colleges and universities across the U.S. are working to reduce their environmental impact. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has joined this nationwide collegiate effort through President Frank Brogan's recent signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). For my thesis, I estimate greenhouse gas emissions at FAU from 2005-2007 through collecting and analyzing data from different university departments and inputting this information into the Clean Air- Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator for further computations. This greenhouse gas emission inventory for FAU meets the ACUPCC requirements. Using this greenhouse gas emission baseline, a comprehensive plan can be produced to monitor progress toward creating a sustainable and climate neutral FAU.

This paper examines permit trading as an instrument for greenhouse gas emission abatement and suggests that a cap and trade scheme is the lowest-cost option for achieving this goal. The paper examines relevant examples of emission trading within the United States, including the Acid Rain Program contained within the 1990 Clean Air Act, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the Chicago Climate Exchange. I address the circumstances, constraints, and degree of success of such programs in relation to the Kyoto Protocol as well as other possible permit schemes at the national level within the United States. I contrast tradable permits with other forms of environmental abatement policy including command and control regulation and taxation. Finally, I analyze the effect of several variables including population and GDP on emissions growth and draws conclusions on what extent those variables play on shaping a domestic greenhouse gas trading program.