Carbon Emissions

Not paragraphed
Though economic growth slowed throughout much of the world during 2001, world
carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels continued their relentless upward trend,
surpassing 6.5 billion tons. As a result of the consistent growth of emissions, the
atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has increased from the
preindustrial level of 280 parts per million (ppm) to today's 370 ppm, a 32-percent
increase. In the last 20 years, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased at
the unprecedented rate of 1.5 ppm a year. In 1950, carbon emissions stood at 1.6
billion tons. By 1977, that had more than tripled, to 4.9 billion tons. In 2000, carbon
emissions approached 6.5 billion tons, a quadrupling in just 50 years. Since the
atmosphere's capacity to fix carbon is fairly constant, as the volume of emissions
rises, the earth fixes a decreasing percentage of emissions. The increased atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHG) trap more of the earth's
heat, causing temperatures to rise. These in turn are responsible for melting ice, rising
sea levels, and a greater number of more destructive storms. Three fourths of the
carbon emissions from human activities are due to the combustion of fossil fuels; the
rest is caused by changes in land use, principally deforestation. Global energy
consumption is projected to rise 60 percent over the next 20 years. Coal use is
expected to increase by 45 percent, oil consumption by 58 percent and natural gas by
93 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Since coal consumption has
actually declined by 6 percent since its peak in 1996, however, there is reason to
believe its use will either continue to drop or will increase less than projected. Yet
even if coal usage remains steady over the next 20 years, the current level of
emissions from all fossil fuels is simply too high. The increasing use of fossil fuels
will only exacerbate changes in global climate. According to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), atmospheric CO2 concentrations by 2100 will be in
the range of 650 to 970 ppmmore than double or triple preindustrial levels. As a
result, the global average surface temperature will likely rise between 1.4 and 5.8
degrees Celsius between 1990 and 2100, an unprecedented rate of increase. Four
major sectors produce carbon emissions. Electricity generation is responsible for the
largest share42 percent. Transportation generates 24 percent of global emissions.
Industrial processes account for 20 percent, and residential and commercial uses
produce the remaining 14 percent. Fortunately, changes can be made in each of these
sectors to reduce carbon emissions using readily available technology. Shifting to
wind, solar, and geothermal power for all electricity generation could greatly reduce
the use of fossil fuels. Increased appliance and machinery efficiency could lower
industrial and residential energy use. In the short term, shifts away from personal
vehicles toward mass transit, along with increases in fuel efficiency, can reduce
transportation emissions. And in the longer term, use of hydrogen-fueled cars and
buses could cut emissions even further. The United States is far and away the world's
leading producer of carbon emissions, with 24 percent of the global total. China is
responsible for 14 percent, and Russia accounts for 6 percent. Japan, whose economy
is the second largest in the world, and India, whose population is second only to
China, are each responsible for 5 percent of world emissions. Various policy measures
have been put forward to address climate change and reduce concentrations of CO2
and other greenhouse gases. The most prominent is the Kyoto Protocol, which
commits industrial nations to reduce their emissions by at least 5 percent below 1990
levels by 2008-12. To enter into force, 55 countries representing 55 percent of
emissions from industrial and former Eastern bloc nations must ratify the treaty. As of
early June 2002, 74 countries responsible for 35.8 percent of global GHG emissions
have ratified the protocol, including Japan and all nations of the European Union. But
with the United States and Australia refusing to ratify, the likelihood that it will enter
into force is considerably diminished. In the United States, the Bush administration's
"Clear Skies" proposal requires a decline in carbon emissions per unit of economic
output (known as carbon intensity), but not overall carbon emissions. The flawed
premise underlying the proposal is that economic growth cannot be achieved without
significant carbon emission increases; thus "Clear Skies" will not fundamentally alter
the U.S. emissions trajectory. The U.S. economy has consistently improved its carbon
intensity, yet emissions have continued to increase. According to the American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the carbon intensity of the U.S. economy
was cut by 17 percent between 1990 and 2000, yet total emissions increased during
that time by 14 percent due to a 39-percent increase in economic activity. The Kyoto
Protocol, even if implemented, is only a first step. According to the IPCC, stabilizing
atmospheric levels of CO2 at 450 ppm would require fossil fuel emissions to drop
below 1990 levels within a few decades, and eventually to decline to a small fraction
of current levels. Regardless of the ultimate fate of the Kyoto Protocol, other policy
initiatives show promise. Decreasing or eliminating government subsidies to fossil
fuels, which total $300 billion annually worldwide, can move the energy economy
away from heavy reliance on carbon-intensive fossil fuels. Decreasing taxes on
income while instituting or increasing carbon taxes would constructively align
economic and environmental goals. Increasing funding for further research and
development of clean energy technologies can also help move the world from a
carbon-based and toward a hydrogen-based energy system. Finally, stabilizing human
population sooner rather than later will help reduce future emissions. (945 words)

Source: http://www.earth-policy.org/Indicators/indicator5.htm

Paragraphed
(1) Though economic growth slowed throughout much of the world during 2001,
world carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels continued their relentless upward
trend, surpassing 6.5 billion tons. As a result of the consistent growth of emissions,
the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) has increased from the
preindustrial level of 280 parts per million (ppm) to today's 370 ppm, a 32-percent
increase. In the last 20 years, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased at
the unprecedented rate of 1.5 ppm a year.
(2) In 1950, carbon emissions stood at 1.6 billion tons. By 1977, that had more
than tripled, to 4.9 billion tons. In 2000, carbon emissions approached 6.5 billion tons,
a quadrupling in just 50 years. Since the atmosphere's capacity to fix carbon is fairly
constant, as the volume of emissions rises, the earth fixes a decreasing percentage of
emissions. The increased atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse
gases (GHG) trap more of the earth's heat, causing temperatures to rise. These in turn
are responsible for melting ice, rising sea levels, and a greater number of more
destructive storms.
(3) Three fourths of the carbon emissions from human activities are due to the
combustion of fossil fuels; the rest is caused by changes in land use, principally
deforestation. Global energy consumption is projected to rise 60 percent over the next
20 years. Coal use is expected to increase by 45 percent, oil consumption by 58
percent and natural gas by 93 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Since coal consumption has actually declined by 6 percent since its peak in 1996,
however, there is reason to believe its use will either continue to drop or will increase
less than projected. Yet even if coal usage remains steady over the next 20 years, the
current level of emissions from all fossil fuels is simply too high. The increasing use
of fossil fuels will only exacerbate changes in global climate.
(4) According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
atmospheric CO2 concentrations by 2100 will be in the range of 650 to 970 ppm
more than double or triple preindustrial levels. As a result, the global average surface
temperature will likely rise between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius between 1990 and
2100, an unprecedented rate of increase.
(5) Four major sectors produce carbon emissions. Electricity generation is
responsible for the largest share42 percent. Transportation generates 24 percent of
global emissions. Industrial processes account for 20 percent, and residential and
commercial uses produce the remaining 14 percent.
(6) Fortunately, changes can be made in each of these sectors to reduce carbon
emissions using readily available technology. Shifting to wind, solar, and geothermal
power for all electricity generation could greatly reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Increased appliance and machinery efficiency could lower industrial and residential
energy use. In the short term, shifts away from personal vehicles toward mass transit,
along with increases in fuel efficiency, can reduce transportation emissions. And in
the longer term, use of hydrogen-fueled cars and buses could cut emissions even
further.
(7) The United States is far and away the world's leading producer of carbon
emissions, with 24 percent of the global total. China is responsible for 14 percent, and
Russia accounts for 6 percent. Japan, whose economy is the second largest in the
world, and India, whose population is second only to China, are each responsible for 5
percent of world emissions.
(8) Various policy measures have been put forward to address climate change and
reduce concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The most prominent is the
Kyoto Protocol, which commits industrial nations to reduce their emissions by at least
5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. To enter into force, 55 countries representing
55 percent of emissions from industrial and former Eastern bloc nations must ratify
the treaty. As of early June 2002, 74 countries responsible for 35.8 percent of global
GHG emissions have ratified the protocol, including Japan and all nations of the
European Union. But with the United States and Australia refusing to ratify, the
likelihood that it will enter into force is considerably diminished.
(9) In the United States, the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" proposal requires
a decline in carbon emissions per unit of economic output (known as carbon
intensity), but not overall carbon emissions. The flawed premise underlying the
proposal is that economic growth cannot be achieved without significant carbon
emission increases; thus "Clear Skies" will not fundamentally alter the U.S. emissions
trajectory. The U.S. economy has consistently improved its carbon intensity, yet
emissions have continued to increase. According to the American Council for an
Energy-Efficient Economy, the carbon intensity of the U.S. economy was cut by 17
percent between 1990 and 2000, yet total emissions increased during that time by 14
percent due to a 39-percent increase in economic activity.
(10) The Kyoto Protocol, even if implemented, is only a first step. According to the
IPCC, stabilizing atmospheric levels of CO2 at 450 ppm would require fossil fuel
emissions to drop below 1990 levels within a few decades, and eventually to decline
to a small fraction of current levels.
(11) Regardless of the ultimate fate of the Kyoto Protocol, other policy initiatives
show promise. Decreasing or eliminating government subsidies to fossil fuels, which
total $300 billion annually worldwide, can move the energy economy away from
heavy reliance on carbon-intensive fossil fuels. Decreasing taxes on income while
instituting or increasing carbon taxes would constructively align economic and
environmental goals. Increasing funding for further research and development of
clean energy technologies can also help move the world from a carbon-based and
toward a hydrogen-based energy system. Finally, stabilizing human population sooner
rather than later will help reduce future emissions. (945 words)
Model Summary

The article stated that world carbon emissions had risen by an alarming 32 per
cent since the beginning of the industrial age, and even more dramatically in the
previous 20 years, despite a global economic downturn in 2001. Since the
atmospheres capacity for fixed carbon was static, the resulting excess of carbon
emissions caused global warming, melting ice caps, higher sea levels and life-
threatening storms.
Fossil fuel consumption accounted for the bulk of CO2 emissions and was
expected to rise dramatically in the next 20 years. According to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the resulting increase in CO2 concentrations would
boost average global temperatures between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees by 2100.
The sectors most responsible for fossil fuel consumption were electricity
production; transportation; industrial process; and residential and commercial uses, in
that order. The author pointed out that existing technology could reduce carbon
emissions in each of these sectors by facilitating a shift to alternative energy sources,
improving mass transportation, and increasing the efficiency of appliances.
The Kyoto Protocol called upon industrialized nations to cut carbon emissions
by at least 5 percent by 2012, but the United States, the worlds leading producer of
CO2 emissions, and Australia had so far refused to ratify it. Moreover, the author
stated that President Bushs Clear Skies proposal was not viable because it did not
require a decrease in total carbon emissions.
The writer concluded that even if ratified, the Kyoto Protocol was only a
beginning and that other initiatives were promising, including decreased government
subsidies for fossil fuel use, increased financing of research and development for
clean energy technology, and the continued effort to cap world population growth.
(277 words)