Questão 50

The inconvenience of the sky being darkened is nothing when compared to the lasting effects of all the carbon being thrown into the atmosphere and radically changing our climate by trapping the heat from the sun. In fact, many gases are responsible for the global warming but CO₂ is considered the main contributor. For this reason, greenhouse gases became known collectively as CO₂ emissions. The good news is that the process of reducing pollution from CO₂ emissions is well under way. After the signature of the Kyoto Protocol by several countries in 2004, it was decided that CO₂ production in each country must be contained by tree-planting or other processes that can absorb it, such as sequestration and changing farming methods. Or, it can be reduced in the first place. If one country produces more CO₂ than it can absorb, it must purchase an ‘absorption ability’ from another nation. The Carbon Credit is this new currency and one Carbon Credit is equal to one Tonne of CO₂ and is called a CO₂e (CO₂ equivalent). A nation that presents a shortfall in absorbing 500,000T of CO₂ must seek to purchase those from another nation that has been planting trees for such a consideration, says the agreement. Costs are between US $10 to 40 per credit.

Adapted from http://savetheplanet.co.nz/carbon-wave-power.html

lasting – duráveis

trapping – prendendo, retendo

greenhouse – estufa

currency – moeda

tonne – tonelada

shortfall – déficit

seek – procurar

purchase – comprar

consideration – razão

Check the correct alternative:

A country will have to buy carbon credits from another if it _____________.