Carbon Dioxide Emissions Increased WorldWide In 2008

A report detailing the carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in 2008 was recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Despite a recession in 2008, the worldwide carbon dioxide emissions rose, predominantly due to China.

In 2008, the worldwide totals for carbon dioxide emissions rose two percent. In this decade, the average increase has been 3.6 percent per year. Experts are predicting, however, that 2009 will see a decline in carbon emissions around three percent due to the recession.

671 million tons was the overall increase between 2007 and 2008, which China is responsible for three-quarters of. Since 2000, the increasing carbon dioxide emissions have been in large part due to China’s growth. Developing nations, as a whole, have been a driving force behind increased yearly emissions.

In the United States, emissions reduced 3 percent and the European Union reduced their emissions by 1 percent. China, which has been the greatest carbon polluter since 2006, obviously increased their emissions.

Even though the United States did reduce their emissions and are behind China in pollution rankings, they still pollute equivalent to India, Russia, Japan and Germany combined. All of these countries are behind the China and the U.S. as the next greatest polluters.

Numerous countries increased their carbon dioxide emissions in 2008. Overall, countries which contributed equal to or greater than 5 million tons of carbon dioxide more than 2007 were: Canada, the Netherlands, Mexico, Poland, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia and India.

Further concerns detailed in the report included the overall contribution of carbon dioxide to the environment since 1982. 715.3 trillion tons have been added to the environment since 1982, which is approximately the same amount all of civilization had ever produced previous to 1982.

Also, in sobering news for global warming, the report noted that the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed by the world’s forests and oceans is decreasing. In 1960, the environment absorbed approximately 60 percent of carbon emissions-- leaving 40 percent in the air. However, now that number has dropped to only 55 percent being absorbed by the environment and 45 percent staying in the air. The greater the amount of carbon in the air, the greater the warming--the warmer it is the more carbon stays in the air.