Global atmospheric CO2 is rising due to our use of fossil fuels. This is the inescapable conclusion from freely available scientific data. See my previous post on modeling global CO2 cycles:
http://dougrobbins.blogspot.com/2012/04/modeling-global-co2-cycles.html
The history of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions is well known from records of fossil-fuel sales. Calculating the CO2 emitted by burning fossil fuels is simple, and we can compare global records of atmospheric CO2 to fossil-fuel emissions for the past 50 years. About 60 percent of the CO2 emitted from fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere, and about 40 percent of the CO2 from fossil fuels is captured by carbon sinks, such as dissolution in the ocean or accumulation in soil.
The future of CO2 emissions and the consequent rise in atmospheric CO2 is the topic of this post.
Here are the charts.
The graph from 1900 to 2009 shows greater detail through the past century.
International Action to Reduce Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions
The rise of atmospheric CO2 was long suspected, but first documented in 1960 by Charles Keeling. As evidence of global warming accumulated, a number of international conferences and treaties called for stabilizing or reducing CO2 emissions. Beginning in 1988, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was formed. A conference in Toronto during the same year recommended that by 2005, industrialized countries should reduce carbon emissions to 80% of the emissions levels of 1988. Subsequent efforts include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992), the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, etc.
In concept, the Kyoto protocol calls for stabilizing global CO2 emissions at the 1990 level. However, the Kyoto Protocol is a complex agreement, and actually only governs about one-quarter of the world’s carbon emissions as of 2010. The United States never ratified the agreement. Many other countries have no binding targets in the first period. Japan and Russia, which observed binding targets in the first period, have declined to accept new targets in the second period. Carbon Dioxide emissions for countries participating in the Kyoto Protocol actually fell 12% below 1990 levels by 2010. But despite years of conferences and treaties, global CO2 emissions have continued to rise, and according to projections by the EIA, will continue to rise.
Historic CO2 levels are shown as a global average using a one-year rolling average from CO2 monitoring stations located from northern Canada to the South Pole. Forecast CO2 concentrations were calculated according to the EIA forecast of CO2 emissions to 2040. The chart of CO2 emissions and atmospheric CO2 is cumulative rather than annual, and is smoother than the charts of annual CO2 emissions. Global average CO2 concentration is forecast to reach 450 ppm by the year 2032, and to reach 481 ppm by the end of the forecast period in 2040.
In summary, the base forecast for atmospheric CO2 is a continuation of the past trend. Atmospheric CO2 will increase at an accelerating rate. Future posts will address the recent effectiveness of renewable energy sources in reducing CO2 emissions, and limitations on the growth of renewable energy solutions.
The larger question is how humanity will deal with global warming which will result from higher concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Strategies for coping include preventing the rise of atmospheric CO2; mitigating the effects of high CO2, or adapting to a warmer world. A clear understanding of where we stand on these issues should help focus resources on the best solutions.
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References:
T.A. Boden, G. Marland, and R.J. Andres, 2013, Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
EIA 2013 Energy Outlook
EIA Forecasts
EIA Table Browser, interactive data-search tool
http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/aeo/tablebrowser
Institute for Energy Research; 2011 article and forecast. In all cases, renewable energy represents only 14% to 17% of total energy supply.
Google data visualization; Globally, 4.7 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions per capita.
http://dougrobbins.blogspot.com/2012/04/modeling-global-co2-cycles.html
The history of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions is well known from records of fossil-fuel sales. Calculating the CO2 emitted by burning fossil fuels is simple, and we can compare global records of atmospheric CO2 to fossil-fuel emissions for the past 50 years. About 60 percent of the CO2 emitted from fossil fuels remains in the atmosphere, and about 40 percent of the CO2 from fossil fuels is captured by carbon sinks, such as dissolution in the ocean or accumulation in soil.
The future of CO2 emissions and the consequent rise in atmospheric CO2 is the topic of this post.
History of CO2 Emissions
A study of fossil-fuel emissions was recently published by the CDIAC (Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center) – T.A. Boden, G. Marland, and R.J. Andres, 2013, Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions, providing estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from 1751 – 2009. To this data series, I added estimates of future global carbon dioxide emissions for the years 2010 to 2040, published by the EIA (Energy Information Agency). The figures presented are the EIA Reference Case, which is the base case of their forecast. I extrapolated emissions from cement manufacture using a constant ratio to the fossil-fuel emissions, and eliminated emissions by flaring.Here are the charts.
CO2 Emissions from 1751 to 2009.
The long-term chart follows the familiar exponential trend, first identified by M. King Hubbard in his landmark paper on peak oil in 1956.
CO2 Emissions from 1900 to 2009.
Future CO2 Emissions
To the data series published by CDIAC, I added estimates for future global carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA) published projections of CO2 emissions for the years 2010 to 2040. The figures presented are the EIA Reference Case, which is the base case of their forecast (cases were also presented for high and low oil prices). The charts show EIA estimates for various sources of emissions. For consistency with the CDIAC data, I extrapolated emissions from cement manufacture using a constant ratio to the fossil-fuel emissions, and eliminated emissions by flaring.
CO2 Emissions History and Forecast, 1751 - 2040
In the EIA base case projection to 2040, the exponential increase of CO2 emissions is moderated, but CO2 emissions continue to increase.
CO2 Emissions and Forecast, 1900 - 2040
International Action to Reduce Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions
The rise of atmospheric CO2 was long suspected, but first documented in 1960 by Charles Keeling. As evidence of global warming accumulated, a number of international conferences and treaties called for stabilizing or reducing CO2 emissions. Beginning in 1988, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was formed. A conference in Toronto during the same year recommended that by 2005, industrialized countries should reduce carbon emissions to 80% of the emissions levels of 1988. Subsequent efforts include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992), the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, etc.
In concept, the Kyoto protocol calls for stabilizing global CO2 emissions at the 1990 level. However, the Kyoto Protocol is a complex agreement, and actually only governs about one-quarter of the world’s carbon emissions as of 2010. The United States never ratified the agreement. Many other countries have no binding targets in the first period. Japan and Russia, which observed binding targets in the first period, have declined to accept new targets in the second period. Carbon Dioxide emissions for countries participating in the Kyoto Protocol actually fell 12% below 1990 levels by 2010. But despite years of conferences and treaties, global CO2 emissions have continued to rise, and according to projections by the EIA, will continue to rise.
Future concentrations of
Atmospheric CO2
Going from CO2 emitted by fossil-fuels to atmospheric CO2 requires a few calculations. A simple volumetric calculation yields the concentration of CO2 released to the atmosphere; every 7.8171 Gigatonnes of CO2 emissions is equivalent to 1 ppm atmospheric CO2. According to the experience of the last 50 years, only about 60% of the CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere, so a corresponding reduction is made to forecast future atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Historic CO2 levels are shown as a global average using a one-year rolling average from CO2 monitoring stations located from northern Canada to the South Pole. Forecast CO2 concentrations were calculated according to the EIA forecast of CO2 emissions to 2040. The chart of CO2 emissions and atmospheric CO2 is cumulative rather than annual, and is smoother than the charts of annual CO2 emissions. Global average CO2 concentration is forecast to reach 450 ppm by the year 2032, and to reach 481 ppm by the end of the forecast period in 2040.
History and Forecast of Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emssions and Atmospheric CO2, 1970 - 2040
In summary, the base forecast for atmospheric CO2 is a continuation of the past trend. Atmospheric CO2 will increase at an accelerating rate. Future posts will address the recent effectiveness of renewable energy sources in reducing CO2 emissions, and limitations on the growth of renewable energy solutions.
The larger question is how humanity will deal with global warming which will result from higher concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Strategies for coping include preventing the rise of atmospheric CO2; mitigating the effects of high CO2, or adapting to a warmer world. A clear understanding of where we stand on these issues should help focus resources on the best solutions.
-----------------
References:
T.A. Boden, G. Marland, and R.J. Andres, 2013, Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
EIA 2013 Energy Outlook
EIA Forecasts
EIA Table Browser, interactive data-search tool
http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/aeo/tablebrowser
Institute for Energy Research; 2011 article and forecast. In all cases, renewable energy represents only 14% to 17% of total energy supply.
Google data visualization; Globally, 4.7 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions per capita.
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