Castlereaghs foreign policy 1815-1822 was more successful than Cannings foreign policy 1822-1827 Essay Example

Castlereaghs foreign policy 1815 Castlereaghs foreign policy 1815-1822 was more successful than Cannings foreign policy 1822-1827 Paper Castlereaghs foreign policy 1815-1822 was more successful than Cannings foreign policy 1822-1827 Paper Essay Topic: Claim of Policy History Whilst Viscount Castlereagh and George Canning were foreign secretary, both achieved many things, some of which still exist in modern day foreign policies. They also can be seen to have failed in some areas, but to find out which of the two was the more successful, both need to be studied to enable one to make a conclusion. In 1815, Viscount Castlereagh became foreign secretary. At the time, his first and main problem would have been the problem of how to deal with France, who had recently been defeated in the Napoleonic wars. The Congress of Vienna 1815 drew up a treaty that formally ended the Napoleonic wars. This all began in 1813 when Napoleons Empire began to fall, France was invaded and Napoleon later abdicated. 1814 brought the Treaty of Paris which restored peace, reduced France to its 1792 frontiers and restored the Bourbon monarchy. It was then decided that a congress would be held in Vienna, however, all the important decisions would be made by the four great powers: England (represented by Castlereagh), Austria (Prince Metternich), Prussia (Count Hardenburg) and Russia (Tsar Alexander I). Vienna had three main aims. The first was to make sure that the French, who were primarily responsible for the wars, paid for what they had caused. Secondly, the great powers gained some compensation for what had happened in the wars. The third was to prevent further French aggression which may have threatened the peace and resulted in another war. A key issue from Vienna was trying to maintain a balance of power (maintaining no single power dominated the rest). This would ensure that all the powers remained on good terms. As Lord Acton said: All power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely. In some ways the Congress of Vienna was unsuccessful because it ignored principles such as liberalism (liberal ideas) and nationalism. However, it can be seen as mainly successful because it didnt humiliate France, which prevented further aggression (and therefore another possible outbreak of war) and, importantly for British interests, Britain gained useful possessions overseas. There is evidence for supporting the claim that Vienna was successful in there being no wars until the 1830s. For starting the period of peace in Europe and for the successful conclusion to the French wars, Castlereagh is given the credit. 815 also brought with it Castlereagh becoming part of the Quadruple Alliance. The members of the Alliance were Austria, Great Britain, Prussia and Russia. They agreed to have meetings at fixed periods and the main interest of the Alliance was to preserve the Peace of Europe. Two months before the Quadruple Alliance was formed another Alliance came into being The Holy Alliance. The members of the Holy Alliance were three monarchs; Tsar Alexander I of Russia, Francis I of Austria and Fredrick William III of Prussia. This was a reactionary alliance as all three monarchs were trying to prevent revolution in Europe and preserve autocracy. Castlereagh refused to commit Britain to the Holy Alliance because he didnt consider revolution was necessarily always a bad thing. Castlereagh once described the Holy Alliance as a piece of sublime mysticism and nonsense. There was a need for both of these alliances because the Holy Alliance was purely for preserving autocracy and the Quadruple Alliance (formed by Great Britain who was democratic as opposed to autocratic) was concerned with keeping the peace in Europe. For Castlereagh, the Quadruple Alliance was a way of upholding the Vienna settlement -it wasnt a way of interfering in European affairs. The Congress system was an attempt to maintain peace and order throughout Europe and Congresses were held to resolve disputes. The first congress was the congress of Aix-la-Chapelle 1818. It met to consider what to do about France which had paid off the 700 million franc indemnity and was settling down under Louis XVIII. It decided that the army of occupation should be removed and that France should take part in congresses, so France was admitted to what became the Quintuple Alliance. The Congress of Troppau Castlereagh refused to attend the Congress of Troppau 1820 as he knew would be a response to revolts in Spain, Portugal, Piedmont and Naples. He instead sent his half brother, Lord Stuart, as an observer. The Congress of Laibach 1821 was the same as Toppau in reference to Castlereaghs disapproval and he again sent Lord Stuart to show his disapproval. At Laibach, Austria and Russia were ready to send soldiers against Italian revolts and as Castlereagh didnt want to use the alliance to quell revolts, he refused to attend. Castlereagh is also responsible for the base of foreign policy for many years after he was foreign secretary. These principles were in his May 1820 state paper. At the time his objectives in foreign policy were to check French expansion, check Russian expansion and support Turkey, to protect British trading interests, prevent a combination of France and Russia (Britain could handle France by themselves and Russia by themselves, but a combination of the two would have been much too much for Britain to take on. ) and to maintain a balance of power in Europe. The reason Britain was so interested in Russian expansion was because Britain had to travel through Turkey to reach India. India became known as The jewel in Britains crown as it had so many resources that Britain traded as Britain had very few of its own. Russia had no access to the sea for some months as its coastline froze for part of the year. Russia wanted control of the straits between Europe and Asia, which would give her access to the Mediterranean and thus aid the growing business of grain exports. This expansion worried Britain as it was easy to travel through Turkey to reach India as Turkey was weak. With this in mind, Britain decided to support Turkey against Russia. The principles of Castlereaghs State paper of May 1820 remained from 1815 to 1865 unaltered. This can only be seen as a success on the part of Castlereagh. However in some aspects, Castlereagh can be seen to have failed. The Congress system had a tension built into it the fact that three great powers were autocratic where as Britain and only Britain was democratic, so from the very start there were going to be disagreements. Castlereagh was also poor at communicating with others and especially the public. Being able to talk to people and express reasons why you are doing certain things can be seen as a very important skill of a politician and Castlereagh didnt have this skill. Many people seem to have misunderstood him as is illustrated in a rather harsh obituary on the death of Castlereagh: The name of Castlereagh will long be connected with tyranny abroad and all that is slavish and oppressive at home. (The Scotsman Newspaper) After Castlereagh commits suicide in 1822, George Canning takes over as foreign secretary. Canning had many aims whilst he was foreign secretary. Canning was not an enthusiastic supporter of liberalism and revolution abroad, but he did believe that whenever there was a bad government, change must come. Like Castlereagh, Canning didnt approve of great powers interfering all over the world as they saw fit. Whereas Castlereagh had merely protested against the Metternich policy of intervention, Canning intended to be more decisive and actually help the revolutionaries in Greece and Portugal. However, this is what Castlereagh had been contemplating. Cannings overriding concern was to protect British interests rather than to preserve the Alliance. His policy was based on a careful, even opportunist calculation of what would best preserve peace and promote Englands prestige and prosperity. (Wendy Hinde (Cannings Biographer)) Cannings specific aims were to prevent the French from interfering in Spain, preserve the new Portuguese constitution, maintain the independence of the Spanish colonies with which Britain had developed valuable trade and help the Greeks, while at the same time making sure that the Russians didnt gain too much advantage of the situation. Canning feared that the French and Spanish might invade Portugal and may even be tempted to regain lost colonies. To prevent the French and Spanish from doing so, the British navy was sent to defend the Portuguese and their defense was successful. Plus, this course of action had restored Britains prestige. Canning, like Castlereagh had many successes through his time as foreign secretary. He achieved recognition of the south American states. In 1823 France offered Spain to restore the Bourbon monarchy (restore autocracy). This news appalled the British government as all the work of eighteenth-century British statesmen to get France out of the New World would be undone so Canning proposed that the United States and Great Britain join to warn off France and Spain from threatening to take over new republics. John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State) argued against the proposal saying: It would be more candid, as well as more dignified, to avow our principles explicitly to Russia and France, than to come in as a cockboat in the wake of the British man-of-war. Adams won over the cabinet and resident Monroe delivered what is now known as the Monroe Doctrine which declared four basic points. The United States would not interfere in the internal affairs of or the wars between European powers; the United States recognized and would not interfere with existing colonies and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere; the Western Hemisphere could not be colonized in the future and any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation would be viewed as a hostile act against the United States. Cannings successes continued in the development of a constitution in Portugal, the ending of the Quadruple Alliance (Canning didnt approve of it), Greek independence, South Americas independence and he gave huge emphasis on British interests. Canning was more independent and nationalistic as opposed to Castlereaghs approach. He believed in a Diplomatic free-for-all in which every country looks after their own which would eventually achieve peace. But along with his successes, Canning failed in some areas too. Canning helped, through his policies, to develop Greek independence but this in the long run weakened Turkey and strengthened Russia which was definitely not in Britains interests. South American republics were not Cannings idea; he merely carried out what Castlereagh had started. Castlereagh had also set up a period of peace which Canning ended. This can also be said for South Americas independence as it said to have been Castlereagh to have started off this process. In conclusion I think that Castlereaghs foreign policy between 1815 and 1822 was more successful than Cannings foreign policy of 1822 to 1827 for a number of reasons. Castlereagh laid down principles whereas Canning appears to have simply carried out policies and made things worse by leaving Turkey weak and Russia strong. Castlereaghs policies were misunderstood whereas Caning took the time to explain to the public what he was trying to achieve. This gained him public support and popularity but appears to have cleverly turned everything into a publicity campaign, which from some peoples point of view may make him appear to be less serious and less of a politician. T may have made him look like he took the job less seriously than he should have and that he was more interested in public support than what he actually achieved, which is the opposite of the impression one gets of Castlereagh. A quote that supports this argument is: There was no fundamental change of policy when Canning took over in 1822. Canning merely accelerated existing trends

How to Identify the Larch Pine Tree

How to Identify the Larch Pine Tree Larches are conifers in the genus  Larix, in the family  Pinaceae. They are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the far north, and high on mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada. These trees can be identified by their coniferous needles and dimorphic shoots which bear singular buds within clusters of needles. However, larches are also deciduous, meaning that they lose their needles in the fall, which is rare for coniferous trees. North American larches are typically observed as either tamarack  or western larch and can be found in many parts of North Americas lush deciduous  forests. Other conifers include bald cypress, cedar, Douglas-fir, hemlock, pine, redwood, and spruce. How to Identify Larches Most common larches in North America can be identified by their coniferous needles and single cone per shoot of needle clusters, but also by the larches deciduous quality wherein they lose these needles and cones in the autumn, unlike most evergreen conifers. The female cones are uniquely green or purple but ripen to brown five to eight months after pollination, however, northern and southern larches differ in cone size - those in colder northern climates have small cones while those in southern climates tend to have much longer cones. These differing cone sizes use to taxonomize this species into two sections - the Larix for the shorter and Multiserialis  for the long bracts, but recent genetic evidence discovered suggests these traits are merely adaptations to climate conditions. Other Conifers and Distinctions Larches arent the most common conifers in North America, cedars, firs, pines, and spruces - which also all happen to be evergreen - are much more common throughout Canada and the United States due to their ability to survive in harsher and warmer climates. These species also differ from larches in the way their shoots, cones, and needles are shaped and grouped.  Cedar  trees, for instance, have much longer needles and often bear cones in clusters with shoots containing multiple clusters. Firs, on the other hand, have much thinner needles and also bear one cone per shoot. Bald cypres,  hemlock, pine, and  spruce  are also included in the same family of coniferous plants, each of which is also evergreen - with only a few exceptions in the redwood family, which only contains a few larch-like genus.

BDX Organizational Information Technology Summary Research Paper

BDX Organizational Information Technology Summary - Research Paper Example In addition to the small group, there is a larger group of contract personnel and consultants, who do not use the company’s network. The following are the names of the key personnel in BDX: The title of the IT department is Computer Lab, and the number of staff in this department is three. Each staff is allocated various responsibilities, which range from software installation to information technology systems maintenance. The IT department is allocated 30 percent of the total budget. The budget includes employee’s remunerations, purchase, and development of relevant information technology systems. The budget also includes maintenance fees for the various information technology systems in the company. There are users project leaders at the organization. These project leaders are concerned with research and development activities of the organization. They have the responsibility of ensuring that the organization is up-to-date with technology and making use of technology to enhance functions of the organizations. A web team exists which is led by Toni McEntire. Toni is the Network Administrator and he creates and maintains the BDX webpage. Two other employees assist Toni and they ensure that all technology-related items run smoothly; they include web updating and maintenance. The web team name is Fast Technology Innovators and it reports directly to the Network Administrator. The name is based on the mean age of the web team and the present situation in the technological world. The company has outsourced most of the functions such as help desk, stationaries, office equipment, and infrastructure materials. The move is to ensure that the company is not overwhelmed by the many functions. This also ensures that everyone in the company runs smoothly and as expected. There were no new hires last year and this is because of the fact that the company is still in its early development

Macro and micro economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Macro and micro economics - Essay Example Though, this is just a rough estimation. The utility comparison has never been accurately summarized, each writer puts down their own views. All the views are somehow correct because they are an improved notion of the first theory. So it is correct to say, Ann’s utility function is lower than peter’s. 2. Central banks have started raising interest rates as many economies picked up in 2010, to combat inflation. Explain the (opposite) effects of higher interest rates and lower inflation on the budget set and welfare of house owners with a mortgage, and assess the overall effect on them. Interest rate is the amount which is charged to the borrower by the lender and it is usually expressed as a percentage. The rate changes due to inflation. On the other hand, inflation is the general rise in the prices level of services and goods over duration of time. By increasing the interest rates, the central banks make it harder for the commercial banks to borrow money. By so doing th e money in circulating reduces hence reducing the inflation. The inverse of this is the central bank reducing its lending rates and making it possible for more banks to borrow money. This will translate to people borrow more money thus increased purchasing power. To people with mortgages it will be easier for them pay to the bank. The overall effect is that the living standards of people will improve since there enough money and its value will be okay. 3- Economics Comprehension 1 Insurance is big business in the UK. So is internet gambling? How might we explain this paradox? (Can it be explained without giving up the assumption that people’s preferences obey the von Neumann-Morgenstern axioms?) Insurance is a contract where premium is paid to the insurer to cover the occurrence a specific risk. Internet gambling includes any kind of activities that are transacted through the internet which involve placing of bets or a wager. The Von- Neumann-Morgenstern’s theory of ut ility has many assumption is one of them being continuity. This is shown by a decision maker who prefers an outcome A to other outcomes B, C. in the interval of unit a number p makes the decision maker indifferent between getting outcome B and yielding A which has a probability P, probability 1-p for C in a lottery. In the UK, insurance being a big business attracts a lot of people. 4. In modern societies, not just simple goods but also uncertain prospects (such as insurance policies) are traded, sold and bought. Show how this phenomenon can be explained by differences in risk attitude between economic agents and show how Pareto-improvements can thereby be achieved. In the modern world, different methods have been established due to high rise of risks. Insurance also involves risks making its agents involve a fee charging the users of the service involving on the risks insured. An agreement between the inured and the insurer known as the policy holder determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. Risk management is important in insurance since insurance companies take over risks from customers. Risk attitude affects projects. This is because of differences in people’s attitude to risk cause conflict, and delay. This can lead to poor management of risks. Loss in insurance is depending on two variables: the number of losses that will occur in a specified period and the amount of losses given that a loss has occurred. The risk attitude depends on its

What is Curiosity Essay -- Psychology, Piaget

What is Curiosity, why do babies differ in intelligence, personality and characteristics as they grow up? Some people become good citizens, and some grow up to be bad citizens who become dangerous to the community. Philosophers tried to find out and explain these questions that were observed in individuals. There are many developmentalists whom offered different theories to explain human development. Theories of development include, psychoanalytic, learning, cognitive, biological and evolutionary, and system theories (Boyd, 2009), and we are discussing Piaget’s cognitive theory below. Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist, and his cognitive- development theory is one of the most influential theories in history. According to his theory, every individual begin their life with a little skills of motor and sensory scheme like looking, touching, hearing, reaching and tasting. In his theory, scheme is an internal cognitive structure that makes available a procedure to follow in a particular condition. Just like, when we pick up something, we use our picking up scheme, and throwing that thing to someone, we use our looking, aiming and throwing scheme. The scheme gets better or works better as we use every time. There are also mental schemes that allow us to think logically and use symbols. This scheme mostly develops during childhood and adolescence. Assimilation, equilibration and accommodation are three processes that Peaget proposed to explain how schemes used in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Using scheme to make sense of experience or an event is t he assimilation process. Accommodation is the process of changing the scheme if there is some new information result. The third process equilibration is balan... ...ton of feathers? Both answered, a ton of stone and a ton of feathers is equal. So, I believe some children can be ready for some formal education earlier than age nine or ten. I also observed girls play differently, and like different toys than boys. Conclusion: Since human development explained differently by many developmentalists, some explanations are agreeable and some are not. But their ideas still influence many of us. The methods which are used to study children’s development, helps understand changes across the human lifespan. We have learned from Jean Piaget’s the cognitive theory that there are stages, and substages for logical thinking, and how the child builds different types of scheme, and the universal changes in thinking happen in the early childhood. I agree that this exercise assisted me to gain understanding the point of the theory. What is Curiosity Essay -- Psychology, Piaget What is Curiosity, why do babies differ in intelligence, personality and characteristics as they grow up? Some people become good citizens, and some grow up to be bad citizens who become dangerous to the community. Philosophers tried to find out and explain these questions that were observed in individuals. There are many developmentalists whom offered different theories to explain human development. Theories of development include, psychoanalytic, learning, cognitive, biological and evolutionary, and system theories (Boyd, 2009), and we are discussing Piaget’s cognitive theory below. Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist, and his cognitive- development theory is one of the most influential theories in history. According to his theory, every individual begin their life with a little skills of motor and sensory scheme like looking, touching, hearing, reaching and tasting. In his theory, scheme is an internal cognitive structure that makes available a procedure to follow in a particular condition. Just like, when we pick up something, we use our picking up scheme, and throwing that thing to someone, we use our looking, aiming and throwing scheme. The scheme gets better or works better as we use every time. There are also mental schemes that allow us to think logically and use symbols. This scheme mostly develops during childhood and adolescence. Assimilation, equilibration and accommodation are three processes that Peaget proposed to explain how schemes used in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Using scheme to make sense of experience or an event is t he assimilation process. Accommodation is the process of changing the scheme if there is some new information result. The third process equilibration is balan... ...ton of feathers? Both answered, a ton of stone and a ton of feathers is equal. So, I believe some children can be ready for some formal education earlier than age nine or ten. I also observed girls play differently, and like different toys than boys. Conclusion: Since human development explained differently by many developmentalists, some explanations are agreeable and some are not. But their ideas still influence many of us. The methods which are used to study children’s development, helps understand changes across the human lifespan. We have learned from Jean Piaget’s the cognitive theory that there are stages, and substages for logical thinking, and how the child builds different types of scheme, and the universal changes in thinking happen in the early childhood. I agree that this exercise assisted me to gain understanding the point of the theory.

Financial Institutions in Financial Markets

A financial institution is an institution that issues deposits and other financial liabilities and invests predominantly in loans and other financial assets (Kidwell, Blackwell, & Whidbee, p. 636, 2008). Financial institutions include organizations such as banks, trust companies, insurance organization, pension, and mutual funds, and investment dealers or banks. In some shape or form individuals and corporations deal with a financial institution on a daily. Depositing money, taking out loans, currency exchange, or investing one has to go through a financial institution. There are several financial institutions three of the major financial institutions and the role they play in the financial market will be discussed in detail. Commercial Banks This is a bank that accepts deposits and makes consumers, commercial, and real estate loans (Saunders, & Cornett, p. 29, 2008). The largest groups of depository institutions that are measured by asset size are commercial banks. Commercial banks have similar functions as savings institutions and credit unions. The three accept deposits (Liabilities) and make loans (assets). The difference is in the arrangement of assets and liabilities, which are much more diverse. To meet the interest obligations to deposit, commercial banks carefully invest the assets in addition to extending loans to business and individuals. Enterprises of small and medium sized businesses are the greatest potential customers of the commercial banking area. Commercial banking has less influence over larger corporations there is a possibility for corporations to influence consumer behavior through the financial products offered. The role of commercial banks in the financial institution is essential because it offers a wide assortment of deposit accounts and serves both the public and private sector. Commercial banks are dominant depository institutions. Insurance Organization The primary function of insurance companies is to protect individuals and corporations from adverse events. In the financial institution, the insurance companies invest in financial securities, such as corporate bonds and stocks with the premiums collected. By accepting these premiums, insurance companies promise policyholders reimbursement if certain specified events occur. The importance of the insurance company in the role of financial institution is one that cannot be overlooked. It protects people and companies from the financial consequences of events whose risks are actuarially determinable. The financial health of the insurance company is the single most important purchase criterion; because an insurance contract is a promise by the insurance company to pay the insured if an event occurs. Investment Banks The possibility of the investment bank depends on the influence the investment bank has over the business. This type of financial institution specializes in the sale of new securities to the public or otherwise known as underwriter. Investment banking has the appeal of allowing one to make a large amount of money. The specialty is helping businesses and governments sell debt or equity in the primary markets to finance capital expenses. Restrictions are few on the range of activities in which investment banks can engage in. The one concern is the role of the financial institution between environmental performance and investment performance. Investment bankers study the market of the securities as well as maintaining relationship that provides a full range of the firm’s services to government agencies or corporate clients looking to raise capital. This requires creative thinking and the ability to leverage other product areas in the organization. The three financial institutions act as intermediaries between the net providers and borrowers of funds. The financial institutions specialize in varying types of financial assets and services and most of them are acquired through the market and organize them into a different and more widely preferable type of asset. Commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance companies facilitate the efficiency and growth of the economy as well as trading of existing securities. The major players in the financial market are very important to the financial market. In conclusion financial institutions create financial assets for customers and sell the assets to other markets for a profit. The functioning of these institutions is very important for an effective financial market and for the conduct of monetary policies. Commercial banks, insurance organizations, and investment banks have been explained separately and how each interacts with each other.

Carbon Dioxide The No. 1 Greenhouse Gas

Carbon is an essential building block for all life on earth. It is also the main atom making up fossil fuels’ chemical composition. It can also be found in the form of carbon dioxide, a gas which plays a central role in global climate change. What Is CO2? Carbon dioxide is a molecule made of three parts, a central carbon atom tied to two oxygen atoms. It is a gas making up only about 0.04% of our atmosphere, but it is an important component of the carbon cycle. Carbon molecules are real shapeshifters, often in solid form, but frequently changing phase from CO2 gas to liquid (as carbonic acid or carbonates), and back to a gas. The oceans contain vast amounts of carbon, and so does solid land: rock formations, soils, and all living things contain carbon. Carbon moves around between these different forms in a series of processes referred to as the carbon cycle – or more precisely a number of cycles that plays multiple crucial roles in the global climate change phenomenon. CO2 Is Part of Biological and Geological Cycles During a process called cellular respiration, plants and animals burn sugars to obtain energy. The sugar molecules contain a number of carbon atoms which during respiration are released in the form of carbon dioxide. Animals exhale excess carbon dioxide when they breathe, and plants release it mostly during nighttime. When exposed to sunlight, plants and algae pick up CO2 from the air and strip it of its carbon atom to use in building sugar molecules – the oxygen left behind is released in the air as O2. Carbon dioxide is also part of a much slower process: the geological carbon cycle. It has many components, and an important one is the transfer of carbon atoms from CO2 in the atmosphere to carbonates dissolved in the ocean. Once there, the carbon atoms are picked up by small marine organisms (mostly plankton) which make hard shells with it. After the plankton dies, the carbon shell sinks down to the bottom, joining scores of others and eventually forming limestone rock. Millions of years later that limestone may emerge to the surface, become weathered and release back the carbon atoms. The Release of Excess CO2 Is the Problem Coal, oil, and gas are fossil fuels made from the accumulation of aquatic organisms that are then subjected to high pressure and temperature. When we extract these fossil fuels and burn them, the carbon molecules once locked into the plankton and algae get released back in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. If we look over any reasonable time frame (say, hundreds of thousands of years), the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has been relatively stable, the natural releases being compensated by the amounts picked up by plants and algae. However, since we have been burning fossil fuels we have been adding a net amount of carbon in the air every year. Carbon Dioxide as a Greenhouse Gas In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide contributes with other molecules to the greenhouse effect. Energy from the sun gets reflected by the surface of the earth, and in the process it is transformed into a wavelength more easily intercepted by greenhouse gases, trapping the heat within the atmosphere instead of letting it reflect out into space. Carbon dioxide’s contribution to the greenhouse effect varies between 10 and 25 % depending on the location, immediately behind water vapor. An Upward Trend The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has varied over time, with significant ups and downs experienced by the planet over geological times. If we look at the last millennia however  we see a steep rise in carbon dioxide clearly starting with the industrial revolution. Since pre-1800 estimates the CO2 concentrations have risen by over 42% to current levels over 400 parts per million (ppm), driven by the burning of fossil fuels and by land clearing. How Exactly Do We Add CO2? As we entered an era defined by intense human activity, the Anthropocene, we have been adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere beyond the naturally occurring emissions. Most of this comes from the combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas. The energy industry, especially through carbon-fired power plants, is responsible for most of the world’s greenhouse gas emission – that share reaches 37% in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Transportation, including fossil fuel powered cars, trucks, trains, and ships, comes in second with 31% of emissions. Another 10% comes from the burning of fossil fuels to heat homes and businesses. Refineries and other industrial activities release a lot of carbon dioxide, led by the production of cement which is responsible for a surprisingly large amount of CO2 adding up to 5% of the total worldwide production. Land clearing is an important source of carbon dioxide emissions in many parts of the world. Burning slash and leaving soils exposed releases CO2. In countries where forests are making somewhat of a comeback, like in the United States, land use creates a net uptake of carbon as it gets mobilized by the growing trees. Reducing Our Carbon Footprint Lowering your carbon dioxide emissions can be done by adjusting your energy demand, making more environmentally sound decisions about your transportation needs, and re-evaluating your food choices. Both the Nature Conservancy and the EPA have useful carbon footprint calculators which can help you identify where in your lifestyle you can make the most difference. What Is Carbon Sequestration? Besides reducing emissions, there are actions we can take to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. The term carbon sequestration means capturing CO2 and putting it away in a stable form where it will not contribute to climate change. Such global warming mitigation measures include planting forests and injecting carbon dioxide in old wells or deep into porous geological formations.