scholarly journals Future CO2 Emissions and Climate Change from Existing Energy Infrastructure

Science ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 329 (5997) ◽  
pp. 1330-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Davis ◽  
Ken Caldeira ◽  
H. Damon Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Infrastructure ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations ◽  
Future Emissions ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Slowing climate change requires overcoming inertia in political, technological, and geophysical systems. Of these, only geophysical warming commitment has been quantified. We estimated the commitment to future emissions and warming represented by existing carbon dioxide–emitting devices. We calculated cumulative future emissions of 496 (282 to 701 in lower- and upper-bounding scenarios) gigatonnes of CO2 from combustion of fossil fuels by existing infrastructure between 2010 and 2060, forcing mean warming of 1.3°C (1.1° to 1.4°C) above the pre-industrial era and atmospheric concentrations of CO2 less than 430 parts per million. Because these conditions would likely avoid many key impacts of climate change, we conclude that sources of the most threatening emissions have yet to be built. However, CO2-emitting infrastructure will expand unless extraordinary efforts are undertaken to develop alternatives.

Spatiotemporal Monitoring of CO2 and CH4 over Pakistan Using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS)

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Irfan Mahmood ◽  
Muhammad Farooq Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Imran Shahzad ◽  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Luqman Atique
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Considerable Increase ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder ◽  
Radiative Balance ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations

Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) are two most potent greenhouse gases and are major source of climate change. Human activities particularly fossil fuels burning have caused considerable increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. CO2contributes 60% of anthropogenic greenhouse effect whereas CH4contributes 15%. Ice core records also show that the concentrations of Carbon dioxide and methane have increased substantially. The emission of these gases alters the Earth’s energy budget and are drivers of climate change. In the present study, atmospheric concentration of CO2and CH4over Pakistan is measured using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS). Time series and time averaged maps are prepared to measure the concentrations of CO2and CH4. The results show considerable increase in concentration of Carbon dioxide and methane. The substantial increase in these concentrations can affect human health, earth radiative balance and can damage crops.

scholarly journals Achieving Net Zero Carbon Dioxide by Sequestering Biomass Carbon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Amelse
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Co2 Sequestration ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The World

Mitigation of global warming requires an understanding of where energy is produced and consumed, the magnitude of carbon dioxide generation, and proper understanding of the Carbon Cycle. The latter leads to the distinction between and need for both CO2 and biomass CARBON sequestration. Short reviews are provided for prior technologies proposed for reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuels or substituting renewable energy, focusing on their limitations. None offer a complete solution. Of these, CO2 sequestration is poised to have the largest impact. We know how to do it. It will just cost money, and scale-up is a huge challenge. Few projects have been brought forward to semi-commercial scale. Transportation accounts for only about 30% of U.S. overall energy demand. Biofuels penetration remains small, and thus, they contribute a trivial amount of overall CO2 reduction, even though 40% of U.S. corn and 30% of soybeans are devoted to their production. Bioethanol is traced through its Carbon Cycle and shown to be both energy inefficient, and an inefficient use of biomass carbon. Both biofuels and CO2 sequestration reduce FUTURE CO2 emissions from continued use of fossil fuels. They will not remove CO2 ALREADY in the atmosphere. The only way to do that is to break the Carbon Cycle by growing biomass from atmospheric CO2 and sequestering biomass CARBON. Theoretically, sequestration of only a fraction of the world’s tree leaves, which are renewed every year, can get the world to Net Zero CO2 without disturbing the underlying forests.

The Threats to Food Security

2019 ◽  
pp. 61-84
Author(s):  
Gordon Conway ◽  
Ousmane Badiane ◽  
Katrin Glatzel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Farm Household ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change ◽  
Socioeconomic Challenges

This chapter explores threats to food security. It reveals many challenges arising from a range of threats external to the farm household, including severe biological threats from pests, disease, and weeds. Moreover, healthy, fertile soils are the cornerstone of food security and rural livelihoods, but African soils are degrading. Water is just as important for the productivity of plants, and lack of water leads to chronic and acute stress. Indeed, Africa is already battling the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures and variable rainfall are increasing the exposure of smallholders to drought, famine, and disease. Agriculture is an important emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), not only carbon dioxide but also such powerful gases as methane and nitrous oxide. In addition, there are often severe socioeconomic challenges, including unstable and high prices of basic commodities. Finally, conflicts cause disruption to food security.

Immobilization of catalytic sites on quantum dots by ligand bridging for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Nanoscale ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 2507-2514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yipeng Bao ◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Xiaofeng Cui ◽  
Ran Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Quantum Dots ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Co2 Reduction ◽  
Energy Crisis ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Catalytic Sites ◽  
Global Problems

Harvesting solar energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into fossil fuels shows great promise to solve the current global problems of energy crisis and climate change.

Recent Record Growth in Atmospheric CO2 Levels

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger J. Francey
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Effect ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Trace Gases ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
Past Century ◽  
The Past ◽  
Rate Of Growth ◽  
Co2 Levels

Environmental Context.Excessive levels of carbon dioxide are accumulating in the atmosphere, principally from burning fossil fuels. The gas is linked to the enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change, and is thus monitored carefully, along with other trace gases that reflect human activity.The rate of growth of carbon dioxide has increased gradually over the past century, and more rapidly in the last decade. Teasing out fossil emissions from changes due to wildfires and to natural exchange with plants and oceans guide global attempts in reducing emissions.

scholarly journals Toxic Income as a Trigger of Climate Change

revistapuce ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fander Falconí ◽  
Rafael Burbano ◽  
Pedro Cango ◽  
Jesús Ramos-Martín
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Temperature Limit ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Permissible Levels ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Intervention Scenario

The rate of CO2 emissions concentration in the atmosphere increasesthe likelihood of significant impacts on humankind and ecosystems. Theassumption that permissible levels of greenhouse gas emissions cannot exceed the global average temperature increase of 2 ºC in relation to pre-industrial levels remains uncertain. Despite this uncertainty, the direct implication is that enormous quantities of fossil fuels have, thus far, wrongly been counted as assets by hydrocarbon firms as they cannotbe exploited if we want to keep climate under certain control. These are the socalled “toxic assets”. Due to the relationship among CO2 emissions, GDP, energy consumption, and energy efficiency, the concept of toxic assets can be transferred to toxic income, which is the income level that would generate levels of CO2 emissions incompatible with keeping climate change under control. This research, using a simulation model based on country-based econometric models, estimated a threshold for income per capita above which the temperature limit of 2 ºC would be surpassed. Under the business as usual scenario, average per capita income would be $14,208 (in constant 2010 USD) in 2033; and underthe intervention scenario, which reflects the commitments of the COP21 meeting held in Paris in December 2015, the toxic revenue would be $13,433 (in constant 2010 USD) in 2036.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Climate Change on Nigerian Ecosystems: A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-291
Author(s):  
B. E. Ikumbur ◽  
S. Iornumbe
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Climatic Variations ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Warming Climate ◽  
The World ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Climate change is the single biggest environmental issue facing the world today. It has become a great challenge to our generation and its impact is felt in almost every society in the world. Nigeria is one of the most vulnerable countries in Africa. Nigeria as a developing nation with a population of about 200 million people is likely to be adversely impacted by climate change due to its vulnerability and low coping capabilities. Climate change is evidently linked to human actions, and in particular from the burning of fossil fuels and changes in global patterns of land use. The impacts of human activities, as well as those of natural phenomena on global warming, climate change, and the environment, were presented and discussed. Various manifestations of its impact are evident in Nigeria, which includes temperature rise, increase in draught, and scarcity of food instigated by irregularities in rainfall, over flooding, and so on. This paper examines the concepts of global warming and climate change; its impact on the Nigeria ecosystems. It highlights the climate change-related risks and hazards the nation could face if best practices are not employed to prevent and mitigate its impact. Two sets of measures have been advocated for confronting climate change, these are mitigation and adaptation measures. The review explores possible adaptation strategies that are required to respond to the climatic variations and suggests ways that these adaptation strategies can be implemented.

scholarly journals Achieving Net Zero Carbon Dioxide by Sequestering Biomass Carbon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Amelse
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Complete Solution ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Natural Form ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The World ◽  
Zero Carbon

Many corporations aspire to become Net Zero Carbon Dioxide by 2030-2050. This paper examines what it will take. It requires understanding where energy is produced and consumed, the magnitude of CO2 generation, and the Carbon Cycle. Reviews are provided for prior technologies for reducing CO2 emissions from fossil to focus on their limitations and to show that none offer a complete solution. Both biofuels and CO2 sequestration reduce future CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. They will not remove CO2 already in the atmosphere. Planting trees has been proposed as one solution. Trees are a temporary solution. When they die, they decompose and release their carbon as CO2 to the atmosphere. The only way to permanently remove CO2 already in the atmosphere is to break the Carbon Cycle by growing biomass from atmospheric CO2 and sequestering biomass carbon. Permanent sequestration of leaves is proposed as a solution. Leaves have a short Carbon Cycle time constant. They renew and decompose every year. Theoretically, sequestrating a fraction of the world’s tree leaves can get the world to Net Zero without disturbing the underlying forests. This would be CO2 capture in its simplest and most natural form. Permanent sequestration may be achieved by redesigning landfills to discourage decomposition. In traditional landfills, waste undergoes several stages of decomposition, including rapid initial aerobic decomposition to CO2, followed by slow anaerobic decomposition to methane and CO2. The latter can take hundreds to thousands of years. Understanding landfill chemistry provides clues to disrupting decomposition at each phase.

scholarly journals Climate change impacts on pest ecology and risks to pasture resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Mansfield ◽  
Colin Ferguson ◽  
Philippa Gerard ◽  
David Hodges ◽  
John Kean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Range Expansion ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Levels ◽  
Farm System ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

It is well understood that damage by insect pests can have serious consequences for pasture resilience. However, the impacts of climate change on pastoral systems, the responses of insect pests, and implications for pest impact mitigation are unclear. This paper reviews pest responses to climate change, including direct impacts such as temperature and carbon dioxide levels, geographic range expansion, sleeper pests, and outbreaks resulting from disturbance such as drought and farm system changes. The paper concludes with a plea for transdisciplinary research into pasture resilience under climate change that has insect pests as an integral component – not as an afterthought.

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