Greenhouse Gas and CO2 Emissions

We hear a lot about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions causing it. And most of the focus is on reducing the burning of fossil fuels, but not a lot of attention is paid to other sources. CO2 is the major component of greenhouse gas emissions and has a wide variety of sources. Natural sources include decomposition, ocean release and respiration. Human sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Globally, we collectively emit around 50 billion tons of CO2 equivalent each year. This is more than 40% higher than emissions in 1990, which were around 35 billion tons.

SOURCE: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2017)

World Energy Outlook (International Energy Agency, 2020).

But, since 1990, gross U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 7% as a result of some actions to combat climate change – e.g., cleaner energy sources (natural gas, renewables), pollution controls, etc.

The primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions (as reported by the US EPA) in the United States are:

Transportation (27% of 2020 greenhouse gas emissions) – The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. Over 90% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes primarily gasoline and diesel.

Electricity production (25% of 2020 greenhouse gas emissions) – Electric power generates the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 60% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas.

Industry (24% of 2020 greenhouse gas emissions) – Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily come from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from certain chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials (e.g., cement).

Commercial and Residential (13% of 2020 greenhouse gas emissions) – Greenhouse gas emissions from businesses and homes arise primarily from fossil fuels burned for heat, the use of certain products that contain greenhouse gases, and the handling of waste.

Land Use and Forestry (13% of 2020 greenhouse gas emissions) – Land areas can act as a sink (absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere) or a source of greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, since 1990, managed forests and other lands are a net sink, i.e., they have absorbed more CO2 from the atmosphere than they emit.

Agriculture (11% of 2020 greenhouse gas emissions) – Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture come from livestock such as cows, agricultural soils, and rice production. 

But there are other significant sources – some natural, some caused by humans.

WILDFIRES

Over the past 40 years in the U.S. alone there have been between 50,000-100,000 wildfires per year – consuming between 5-10 million acres each year. The GHGs emitted by fire are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Around 2 billion tons of carbon are emitted globally each year from wildfires. The mountain areas in California have been particularly susceptible to major wildfires.

In May 2023, wildfires in Alberta, Canada destroyed more than two million acres of land

And then, in June 2023, massive wildfires broke out in the Canadian province of Quebec that caused extensive smoke pollution throughout the northeast USA.

OTHER FIRES – Residential, Industrial, Commercial

Residential fires in the US average over 370,000 a year. Non-residential building fires in the US average over 100,000 a year.

In total, emissions from fires can exceed the emissions from burning fossil fuels.

ABANDONED WELLS

It is estimated that there are 3.5 million unplugged abandoned wells in the U.S. – and that they emit approximately 12 million tons of CO2 each year – which is the equivalent of about 3 million passenger vehicles driven for one year. So, plugging these wells would make a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

VOLCANOES

There are approximately 10 to 20 volcanic eruptions per day on Earth. There are approximately 1,500 active volcanos on Earth. Significant amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen halides can also be emitted from volcanoes. CO2 out-gassed to the atmosphere and oceans today from volcanoes and other magmatically active regions is estimated at 280 to 360 million tons per year, including that released into the oceans from mid-ocean ridges.

Encyclopedia Britannica

EXPLOSIONS & ACCIDENTS

Explosions and accidents can be very large and violent. Depending on the source materials and size, they can create very large emissions of combustion bi-products, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

2020

2023

 WARS

Unfortunately, wars are still frequent worldwide. Depending on their size and scope and the parties involved, they can cause a lot of violence resulting in very large emissions of combustion bi-products and debris, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Oṡrodek Studiόw Wschodnich 

And they worry about pollution from car exhaust emissions – which, by the way, are now miniscule with modern catalytic converters. So, although it is important to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the largest and most traditional sources (e.g., burning fossil fuels) – and we have shown that we can – we also need to recognize that there are – and always have been – other significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions that we have little or no control of.

All Rights Reserved © 2023 Henry P. Mitchell