Information Bridge

Bibliographic Citation 
Full Text pdf 1 Mb   View Full Text or Access Individual Pages  -   search, view and/or download individual pages
Title Historic patterns of CO{sub 2} emissions from fossil fuels: Implications for stabilization of emissions
Creator/Author Andres, R.J. ; Marland, G.
Publication Date1994 Oct 01
OSTI IdentifierOSTI ID: 10185359; Legacy ID: DE95000489
Report Number(s)CONF-940632--25
DOE Contract NumberAC05-84OR21400; AC05-76OR00033
Other Number(s)Other: ON: DE95000489
Resource TypeConference
Specific TypeTechnical Report
Resource RelationConference: Annual meeting and exhibition of the Air and Waste Management Association,Cincinnati, OH (United States),19-24 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
Research OrgOak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States); Oak Ridge Inst. for Science and Education, TN (United States)
Sponsoring OrgUSDOE, Washington, DC (United States);Oak Ridge Inst. for Science and Education, TN (United States)
Subject54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARBON DIOXIDE; HISTORICAL ASPECTS; GLOBAL ASPECTS; STABILIZATION; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; FOSSIL FUELS; COMBUSTION; GREENHOUSE GASES; AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
Description/Abstract This paper examines the historical record of greenhouse gas emissions since 1950, reviews the prospects for emissions into the future, and projects what would be the short-term outcome if the stated targets of the FCCC were in fact achieved. The examination focuses on the most important of the greenhouse gases, CO{sub 2}. The extensive record of historic CO{sub 2} emissions is explored to ascertain if it is an adequate basis for useful extrapolation into the near future. Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption have been documented. Emissions grew at 4.3% per year from 1950 until the time of the 1973 oil crisis. Another disruption in growth followed the oil price increases of 1979. Global total emissions have been increasing steadily since the 1982-1983 minimum and have grown by more than 20% since then. At present, emission Of CO{sub 2} from fossil fuel burning is dominated by a few countries: the U.S., the former Soviet Union, China, the developed countries of Europe and Japan. Only 20 countries emit 84% of emissions from all countries. However, rates of growth in many of the developed countries are now very low. In contrast, energy use has grown rapidly over the last 20 years in some of the large, developing economies. Emissions from fossil fuel consumption are now nearly 4 times those from land use change and are the primary cause of measured increases in the atmospheric concentration of CO{sub 2}. The increasing concentration of atmospheric CO{sub 2} has led to rising concern about the possibility of impending changes in the global climate system. In an effort to limit or mitigate potential negative effects of global climate change, 154 countries signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) in Rio de Janeiro in June, 1992. The FCCC asks all countries to conduct an inventory of their current greenhouse gas emissions setting non-binding targets.
Country of PublicationUnited States
LanguageEnglish
FormatSize: 16 p.
Availability OSTI; NTIS; GPO Dep.
To purchase this media from NTIS, click here
System Entry Date2005 Jun 26
Document Discussions

Climate Change:

This is an article I found while browsing through the R&D Accomplishments feature on Climate Change (http://www.osti.gov/accomplishments/climate.html). A 1994 article, it was very interesting to read the predictions surmised in the early nineties about CO2 levels. It was also very scary. Predictions in the early nineties had China overtaking the US as the number one CO2 producer in 2012. While the authors and researchers themselves state how long projections into the future pose more risk of inaccuracy, it is very scary and eye-opening that China passed the US in CO2 emissions this past year. This is a full five years before predicted.

This article gave a very good background on the history of different groups concerned with emission levels. The IPCC, Inter-governmemntal Panel on Climate Change is one that has gotten a lot of press lately. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) is of major focus in this article. While the initial recommended levels have not been reached, thanks in part to the FCCC we have become a more climate change aware populace. This is a good refresher on where we have come from in our study of climate change and CO2 emissions.
    posted by er.dom - Sep 11, 2008 3:56 PM

 (for display)
 (Email address will NOT be displayed.)

   (All fields required. Document Discussions not displayed until approved.)

Top