Report Finds Rate of Growth of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Sharply Increased Between 2000 and 2005
29 May 2009
Anthropogenic global greenhouse gas emissions increased by 15% between 2000 and 2005, a sharp increase in the expected rate of growth, according to a new report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). It also showed that global annual emissions of greenhouse gases increased from 24 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in 1970 to 33 billion tonnes in 1990 and 41 billion tonnes in 2005.
The new report takes its figures from EDGAR (Emission database for global atmospheric research), a joint project between the JRC and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).
EDGAR is a detailed overview of 35 years (from 1970 to 2005) of greenhouse gas emissions by country and emission sector. It covers not only carbon dioxide but also other groups of chemical compounds known to have a detrimental effect on the environment, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
EDGAR used the latest international statistics and data on greenhouse gas emissions to model emissions for every country in the world. It reports on energy production and consumption, industrial manufacturing, agricultural production, disposal of waste materials and the burning of biomass. It also provides data on greenhouse-gas emissions for the 20 years preceding the 1990 Kyoto protocol.
The EDGAR database shows that greenhouse gas emissions have been rising faster in developing countries than in industrialized ones since 2004, even though developing countries emit lower levels of the gases. Levels of emissions in developing countries are now 3 times higher than they were in 1970 (from 7 billion tonnes in 1970 to approximately 21 billion tonnes in 2005). At the same time, emission levels from industrialized countries have slowed down.
Carbon dioxide showed the greatest growth, but levels of gases such as methane and nitrous oxide have also increased. Emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (such as hydrofluorocarbons, which are extremely powerful and long lasting in the atmosphere) have increased by up to 40%.
The EDGAR database fills a gap in current greenhouse gas statistics as it gives consistent information on both industrialized and developing countries. Previous versions of EDGAR have been used for the past 15 years, but information on emission rates in developing countries has been inconsistent in terms of both amount and quality
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The EDGAR statistics will be used to provide a global perspective on worldwide trends in greenhouse gas emissions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15), which will take place in Copenhagen in December 2009.
Where are you Stan??
You're got to set the world straight. AGW is a communist plot.
Posted by: dursun | 29 May 2009 at 03:55 PM
The JRC is quoted as saying "emissions increased by 15% between 2000 and 2005, a sharp increase in the expected rate of growth". - Which makes no sense.
Per:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm?id=2820&obj_id=341&dt_code=HLN&lang=en
they actually said that the increase in GMMGHG emissions jumped to 15% between 2000 and 2005, vs. 3% and 6% for the previous 5 year periods.
Unfortunately that is very bad news. The rate of increase doubled.
The fact that " ... emission levels from industrialized countries have slowed down." is ominous.
That means we have to quickly transition to negative GHG emission levels.
Good luck with that.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 29 May 2009 at 08:37 PM