Cristan Cruz

Kiker
5th
9/8/14

Can CO2 emissions affect how long you live?

The human body relies on the intake of oxygen into our lungs in order to function. We
breathe air every day of our lives. However, did you know that you could also figure out how
long you live just by what you are breathing in the air? With the increase of greenhouse gases in
our world, the rate of CO2 emissions that are being produced have increased as well. If we are
continuously breathing in this CO2 emission we could be at risk for having a shorter life span. I
chose to further research the relationship between CO2 emissions (Metric Tons per Capita) and
Life expectancy at Birth. If we can figure out a relationship between these two global variables,
then we can raise awareness about the production of CO2 emissions reaching our atmosphere.
With my two global variables in mind, I researched the CO2 emissions and Life
Expectancy at Birth of 15 different countries for the year 2010. The countries were varied,
meaning some were third-world countries and others were well off, more developed countries. I
then plotted the points on a graph and calculated the regression equation and line for it. Here is
what my scatterplot of my data points looks like:

Cristan Cruz
Kiker
5th
9/8/14

As you can see, my data points are rather scattered around. With these data points, I was
able to find the regression equation that best fit my set of points. I figured out that the best
regression equation line would best be represented if it was a cubic regression equation. The
cubic regression equation was the only regression equation that had the highest r2 value so, that
is the reason why I chose this equation. The regression equation that models my line is
y = 0.0022x3 - 0.1553x2 + 3.3641x + 52.662 and the r2 value of my equation is .788. This means
that my two global variables have a .788 correlation between each other. The higher your r2
value is to 1.0 the stronger your correlation, or relationship, between the two variables is. With
an r2 value of .788, I can say that CO2 emissions and Life Expectancy at birth have a fairly
strong relationship and, that CO2 emissions in a country can influence a persons life expectancy
at birth. We also have to consider that reason that my r2 value wasnt as high is because of some
other outside factors that play into CO2 emissions influencing life expectancy. Outside factors
like how naturally clean the air of a country is and access to health care can affect the influence
of CO2 emissions influencing life expectancy. However for this project, we were only finding
the correlation between CO2 emissions and life expectancy at birth, so having a .788 correlation
is great.
The slope of my line is positive and is of a cubic function so, this means that as CO2
emissions are produced, the life expectancy at birth will have a positive or negative affect
depending on much CO2 is being emitted into the countrys air. The y-intercept of my regression
equation is 52.662. That means once you substitute the CO2 emissions for x and figure out your
life expectancy in years, you will then have to add 52.662. 52.662 represents the addition of the
average amount of years people will live after taking in the CO2 emissions. My prediction of
three y-values based on my selected x-values, I chose 41, 45, and 50. For 41 as the x-value, the

Cristan Cruz
Kiker
5th
9/8/14

y-value should be close to 70 years. For 45 as the x-value, the y-value should be close to 60
years. For the final x-value of 50, the y-value should be near 60 years as well. My predictions
could possibly be off due to the other outside factors that can affect CO2 emissions influencing
Life expectancy.
After researching my points and finding the correlation between CO2 emissions and life
expectancy at birth, many careers could use my data analysis in their own research. Careers that
are involved in reducing CO2 emissions into our atmospheres and producing a cleaner use of
energy could use my data to find out whether or not CO2 emissions can affect life expectancy at
birth. If they do agree that there is a.788 correlation between my two global variables, then they
could aware us of the fact that the more metric tons of CO2 emissions you have in your country,
the shorter you could live.
Our human bodies rely on breathing in air on a daily basis. With the growth of CO2 being
emitted into our atmosphere, the more we are breathing it in every day. After further researching
the correlation between CO2 emissions per metric ton and life expectancy at birth, which came
out to be .788, I came to a conclusion that CO2 emissions affect a persons life expectancy at
birth. We just have to also take into consideration all of the outside factors a country could have
before looking just at the relationship between the CO2 emissions a country produces and their
life expectancy at birth.

Cristan Cruz
Kiker
5th
9/8/14

Works Cited
World Development Indicators CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita). 2014. The
World Bank. August 28th, 2014.
World Development Indicators Life expectancy at birth, total (years). 2014. The World
Bank. August 28th, 2014.