. Earth Science News .




.
FROTH AND BUBBLE
Steep increase in global CO2 emissions despite reductions by industrialized countries
by Staff Writers
Paris, France (SPX) Sep 28, 2011

Long term global growth in CO2 emissions continues to be driven by power generation and road transport, both in industrial and developing countries. Globally, they account for about 40% and 15% respectively of the current total and both have consistent long-term annual growth rates of between 2.5% and 5%.

Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the main cause of global warming - increased by 45% between 1990 and 2010, and reached an all-time high of 33 billion tonnes in 2010. Increased energy efficiency, nuclear energy and the growing contribution of renewable energy are not compensating for the globally increasing demand for power and transport, which is strongest in developing countries.

This increase took place despite emission reductions in industrialised countries during the same period. Even though different countries show widely variable emission trends, industrialised countries are likely to meet the collective Kyoto target of a 5.2 % reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 as a group, partly thanks to large emission reductions from economies in transition in the early nineties and more recent reductions due to the 2008-2009 recession.

These figures were published in the report "Long-term trend in global CO2 emissions," prepared by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

The report, which is based on recent results from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) and latest statistics for energy use and other activities, shows large national differences between industrialised countries.

Over the period 1990-2010, in the EU-27 and Russia CO2 emissions decreased by 7% and 28% respectively, while the USA's emissions increased by 5% and the Japanese emissions remained more or less constant.

The industrialised countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol (so called 'ratifying Annex 1 countries') and the USA, in 1990 caused about two-thirds of global CO2 emissions. Their share of global emissions has now fallen to less than half the global total.

Continued growth in the developing countries and emerging economies and economic recovery by the industrialised countries are the main reasons for a record breaking 5.8% increase in global CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2010. Most major economies contributed to this increase, led by China, USA, India and EU-27 with increases of 10%, 4%, 9% and 3% respectively.

The increase is significant even when compared to 2008, when global CO2 emissions were at their highest before the global financial crisis. It can be noted that in EU-27, CO2 emissions remain lower in absolute terms than they were before the crisis (4.0 billion tonnes in 2010 as compared to 4.2 billion tonnes in 2007).

At present, the USA emits 16.9 tonnes CO2 per capita per year, over twice as much as the EU-27 with 8.1 tonnes. By comparison, Chinese per capita CO2 emissions of 6.8 tonnes are still below the EU-27 average, but now equal those of Italy. It should be noted that the average figures for China and EU-27 hide significant regional differences.

Long term global growth in CO2 emissions continues to be driven by power generation and road transport, both in industrial and developing countries. Globally, they account for about 40% and 15% respectively of the current total and both have consistent long-term annual growth rates of between 2.5% and 5%.

Throughout the Kyoto Protocol period, industrialised countries have made efforts to change their energy sources mix. Between 1990 and 2010 they reduced their dependence on coal (from 25% to 20% of total energy production) and oil (from 38% to 36.5%), and shifted towards natural gas (which increased from 23% to 27 %), nuclear energy (from 8% to 9%) and renewable energy (from 6.5% to 8%).

In addition they made progress in energy savings, for example by insulation of buildings, more energy-efficient end-use devices and higher fuel efficiencies.

The report shows that the current efforts to change the mix of energy sources cannot yet compensate for the ever increasing global demand for power and transport. This needs to be considered in future years in all efforts to mitigate the growth of global greenhouse gas emissions, as desired by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Bali Action Plan and the Cancun agreements.

The full report can be downloaded here

Related Links
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up




 

.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries






. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



FROTH AND BUBBLE
China shuts lead plants on pollution fears
Shanghai (AFP) Sept 23, 2011
Authorities in Shanghai said Friday they had halted production at most of the city's lead battery plants - including a US-owned factory - on pollution concerns. The announcement came after local media reported that 32 children living near two plants using lead in production, including one run by US Fortune 500 company Johnson Controls, were found to have excessive lead in their blood. ... read more


FROTH AND BUBBLE
Japan donor leaves 10 million yen gift in public toilet

Quake rocks Japan's crippled nuclear power plant

Reactor cooldown at Japan's Fukushima plant

Japan's post-tsunami tourism haunted by atomic fears

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Judge says Apple/Samsung ruling in Australia next week

New core wall may speed skyscraper construction

Catalyst discovery has potential to revolutionize chemical industry

New nanostructure-based process will streamline production of magnetic materials

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Philippines deports Vietnam poachers

Sneaking up on the glassy transition of water

Brazil court orders halt to work on $11 bn mega-dam

Small fish recover faster than large fish

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Chinese target Arctic with Iceland land deal: experts

Model provides successful seasonal forecast for the fate of Arctic sea ice

Putin touts Arctic Northeast passage

Understanding methane's seabed escape

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Pakistan's flooded breadbasket spells economic misery

Chinese engineer, global activists get 'alternative Nobels'

Top Bolivia minister quits over Amazon crackdown

Potatoes largest and most affordable source of potassium of any vegetable or fruit

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Japan tsunami was wake-up call for S. Asia: expert

Volcano threat sparks evacuation in Canaries

Typhoon shuts down Hong Kong, hits China

Cambodian flood toll tops 100: disaster official

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Guyana opposition warns foreign bauxite firms

Zambia's Sata tells Chinese investors to respect labour laws

Sierra Leone army chief urges political impartiality

China to build $439-million housing complex in Mozambique

FROTH AND BUBBLE
What can magnetic resonance tractography teach us about human brain anatomy?

Many roads lead to Asia

Female promiscuity can rescue populations from harmful effects of inbreeding

DNA study suggests Asia was settled in multiple waves of migration


Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News
.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement