Here's the Story
The Industrial Revolution that took place in Europe between 1760 and 1840 established a standard of burning fossil fuels, coal mining, and factory systems. The subsequent boom in urbanization also led to higher rates of deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to technologies like steam engines, railroads, and telegraphs, spurring the creation and growth of many new companies and industry.
The transportation industry was one such industry that flourished during the Industrial Revolution. Before the creation of the steam engine, raw materials and finished goods were shipped via horse-drawn wagons, and by boats along canals and rivers. In the early 1800s, the first commercially successful steamboat went into commission, and by the mid-19th century, steamships were carrying freight across the Atlantic. As steam-powered ships were making their debut, the first railway steam locomotive was also making waves in the transportation industry. Although both coal burning and diesel locomotives produced similar levels of CO2, the transition from steam to diesel was especially detrimental to the environment, as more and more diesel was required to keep transportation systems intact.
These advancements have led to a new standard of industry. According to a 2012 study, a majority of the world's corporations have released about a billion tons of CO2 in the air every year, in study done in 2012. The total amounts to more than 2.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide released into the air every second, an unthinkable statistic.
With a rapidly-evolving industry and few environmental regulations, the Industrial Revolution has set a precedent of high greenhouse gas emissions and industrial water usage. Since the Industrial Revolution began, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere has increased by about 40%. Familiarity with this history is a necessity in order to understand how and why corporations are currently affecting climate change.
