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Understanding CO₂ Emissions: How Important Is CO₂ Emissions Monitoring?
Understanding CO₂ Emissions: How Important Is CO₂ Emissions Monitoring?
A greenhouse gas called carbon dioxide (CO₂) is emitted into the atmosphere by a variety of natural and human processes. The atmosphere of the planet naturally contains the colorless and odorless gas CO₂. Moreover, it enters the atmosphere as a result of natural occurrences including breathing, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. Yet, the main source of CO₂ emissions that are contributing to the increase in atmospheric CO₂ levels is human activity. When carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle, it is taken out of the atmosphere (or "sequestered").
Burning fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is the main human activity that contributes to the atmospheric emission of CO₂. Because trees absorb and store carbon, when they are cut down or burned, the carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to deforestation and changes in land use. To offer a thorough picture of emissions sources and trends, monitoring CO₂ emissions necessitates a variety of techniques, including direct measurements, remote sensing, emission inventories, and carbon footprint analyses. Maps, graphs, and charts that display historical emissions patterns, emissions by industry or region, and the effects of various policies or technologies on emissions are just a few examples of visualizations that may be utilized to monitor CO₂ emissions.
Background
Cement production is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions. The primary source of emissions is the calcination process, which releases CO₂ as limestone is heated to produce cement clinker. Additionally, fossil fuels used to power cement kilns also emit CO₂, further contributing to the industry's carbon footprint.
Key Highlights
Compared to other continents, Asian countries have a higher proportion of global emissions of CO₂ from cement. China and India have surpassed advanced economies such as the United States and Japan in CO₂ emissions, making them the leading countries in this regard.
Over the years, CO₂ emission from cement has increased because of various reasons but one of the major reason is the increased demand for cement due to the population increasing which in turn leads to increased demand in housing.
Background
Flaring is the process of burning natural gas that cannot be processed or stored. Flaring releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Flaring is often associated with oil production, as natural gas is often found in oil wells and is produced as a byproduct. In addition to flaring, the extraction, processing, and transportation of oil also release CO₂ into the atmosphere. The combustion of oil in vehicles, power plants, and other industrial processes also produces significant amounts of CO₂ emissions. Overall, the oil and gas industry is a major contributor to global CO₂ emissions, and efforts to reduce emissions from this industry are critical for addressing climate change.
Key Highlights
In terms of emissions caused by Flaring, Asian middle eastern and African countries have contributed more, while European nations have been responsible for a greater share of emissions caused by Oil. South American and Oceanic countries have the least contribution in CO₂ emission from gas flaring and oil burning.
How have emissions from fossil fuels changed since the industrial revolution?
How have emissions from fossil fuels changed since the industrial revolution?
Since the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuel emissions have substantially increased. Humans generally relied on renewable energy sources, such as wind, water, and biomass, before the Industrial Revolution. Nonetheless, there has been a major rise in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the extensive use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for electricity generation, industry, and transportation.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere after the burning of fossil fuels, trapping heat, and raising global temperatures. Since the Industrial Revolution, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by more than 40%, from about 280 parts per million (ppm) in the 18th century to over 400 ppm now.
The International Energy Agency estimates that in 2019, global energy-related CO2 emissions hit a record high of 33.1 gigatons, with the combustion of fossil fuels accounting for the great bulk of those emissions. This is a rise of 1.6% from the prior year.
The ongoing use of fossil fuels and the emissions that follow from it are causing climate change, which has negative effects on ecosystems, human health, and sea levels to rise. As a result, the necessity of switching to cleaner, renewable energy sources to lower greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the effects of climate change is becoming increasingly evident.
Background
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from oil and gas are substantial contributors to global climate change. As gas and oil are used for energy, CO₂ is released into the environment. Methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas, can also be released during the extraction, processing, and transportation of oil and gas. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that around two-thirds of the world's greenhouse gas emissions come from the extraction and consumption of oil and gas.
Key Highlights
Asia's oil and gas-related CO₂ emissions have been rising linearly over time. In comparison, the annual CO₂ emissions from oil are higher than those from gas. Continents like Oceania and North America have has no to little amount of change over the years for Gas and Oil related CO₂ emissions. Out of all the 6 continents only Europe has more CO₂ emitted from Gas than from Oil. There are many reasons for countries from Europe to shift from Oil to Gas but few of the reasons are abundance of natural gas supplies, its lower cost compared to oil, and its relatively cleaner burning properties.
Background
As coal has the highest carbon content of all fossil fuels, burning it for energy plays a significant role in the production of greenhouse gases on a worldwide scale. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere along with other air pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which can be harmful to human health and air quality. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that coal emissions make up about 45% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Key Highlights
Africa's coal emissions peaked in 2014 at 439.14 million tonnes of CO₂. 2018 had the fewest tons recorded at 415.99 million tonnes. Asia's CO₂ emission via coal burning peaked in the year 2018 at 11,146.8 million tonnes which means out of all the continents, Asia was the last to abolish the use of coal in producing energy.
Most of the developed countries in Europe and North America stopped using coal to produce energy and moved on to other energy sources since they had the highest amount of CO₂ emission from coal in the year 2012 and 2011 respectively.
Background
Forestry and land use activities can both emit and sequester carbon dioxide . Deforestation and land-use change can release significant amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Key Highlights
Africa has the highest change in CO₂ emission from the year 2011-2018. The continent with the least CO₂ emission is Europe followed by Oceania with the former having increased CO₂ emission from 2011 to 2018 and the latter having decreased CO₂ emission in the same time period.
Out of the 6 continents, 5 of them have decreased their CO₂ emission by Land Use and Forestry from 2011 to 2018.
Breaking among three global environmental challenges - population growth, emissions intensity, and energy consumption per capita.
Breaking among three global environmental challenges - population growth, emissions intensity, and energy consumption per capita.
In order to ensure sustainable development and reduce the effects of climate change, it is essential to break down the three global environmental concerns population increase, emissions intensity, and energy consumption per capita.
One of the largest issues facing the world now is population increase. The need for food, water, and energy rises along with the world's population, which can result in habitat loss, deforestation, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Countries must endeavor to put into place policies that support sustainable development, such as family planning initiatives, expanded access to healthcare and education, and expenditures on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, in order to address this issue.
Another significant environmental concern is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced for every unit of economic output. Countries must move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources to meet this challenge, while simultaneously enacting laws that promote energy efficiency and conservation. This involves spending on public transit, enforcing building laws and standards, and providing incentives for people and businesses to use less energy.
Last but not least, energy consumption per person is a significant environmental issue that needs to be resolved to ensure sustainable growth. Increased greenhouse gas emissions and environmental deterioration can result from high levels of energy usage per person. Countries must prioritize reducing energy consumption through energy efficiency and conservation measures while also fostering the development and use of renewable energy sources in order to solve this challenge.
Background
Two significant variables that are frequently used to gauge a nation's environmental effect are its population and its CO₂ emissions as a percentage of GDP. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted by a nation in relation to its economic production is referred to as CO₂ emissions per GDP. A country that uses more energy inefficiently and generates more emissions per unit of economic output typically has a higher CO₂ emission to GDP ratio.
Key Highlights
In terms of population and economic activity, Asia and Africa have the greatest environmental influence. A nation with a large population and a high CO₂ emission to GDP ratio is thought to have a higher influence on the environment. Yet, there are also additional elements, such as resource consumption and land usage, that can affect a nation's environmental impact. Consequently, while evaluating a country's sustainability, population, and CO₂ emissions per GDP should be taken into account together with other environmental indices.
Background
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy per capita increased slightly from 2011 to 2018. In developed countries, energy per capita actually decreased slightly during this time period. This is likely due to increased energy efficiency measures and a shift towards renewable energy sources in these countries. On the other hand, in developing countries, energy per capita increased significantly from 2011 to 2018. This was largely driven by economic growth and an increasing demand for energy in these countries.
Key Highlights
The country with the highest energy per capita from 2011-2018 was Qatar with 202551.469 kWh/person/year. The country with the lowest energy per capita from 2011-2018 was Chad in Africa with 180.934 kWh/person/year.
Global CO₂ Emissions from Gas Flaring, Cement Manufacture, Gas Flaring in million tonnes, 2011-2018
Global CO₂ Emissions from Gas Flaring, Cement Manufacture, Gas Flaring in million tonnes, 2011-2018
There is a positive correlation between Energy Consumption and Population which makes sense because as the population grows, so does the demand for energy. More people mean more homes, more vehicles, more appliances, and more industrial activity, all of which require energy.
The negative correlation between CO₂ and Population can be very well explained by factors such as efficient energy systems, renewable energy use, and low levels of consumption. This can be proved as there is negative correlation between Population and Flaring, Gas, Oil but positive correlation between Population and Cement & Land Use which means higher the population higher CO₂ emission from Land Use and Cement because of the demand for land and housing.
An interesting correlation is between CO₂ emission from Cement and CO₂ emission from Land Use as they have negative correlation between them. Common understanding should be that if CO₂ emission from land use increases from processes like deforestation it would be because of higher demand in housing construction which in turn should lead to higher CO₂ emission from cement production. One of the important reason between the negative correlation is different geographies. CO₂ emissions from land use tend to be higher in developing countries where deforestation and land degradation are more common. In contrast, cement production tends to be more prevalent in developed countries that have more established infrastructure and construction industries.
Reference
Reference
CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser and Pablo Rosado, https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions
Visualizing Carbon by Antony Turner and Adam Niemanm, https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2016/02/visualizing-carbon/
CO2 emissions by Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser, https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions
CO2 Emissions v. Vulnerability to Climate Change, by Nation, https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/climate-change-emissions-data/
Visualising the World’s Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Adam Symington, https://towardsdatascience.com/visualising-the-worlds-carbon-dioxide-emissions-with-python-e9149492e820
Emissions Gap Report 2022 by UNEP, https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2022
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