As our planet grapples with the consequences of climate change, this blog post delves into the complex relationship between human activities and our environment. Specifically, we’ll explore the dynamics of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, shedding light on the countries responsible for the highest emissions and examining their consequences on both land and water ecosystems.
The Global Landscape: Top 5 CO2 Emitters
When fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are burned for energy, they release large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. The excessive release of CO2 and other greenhouse gases enhances the heat-trapping effect, causing a gradual warming of the planet known as global warming. This warming, in turn, leads to a wide array of climate change impacts, including disruptions to ecosystems.
Our journey begins with a visual exploration of the top five countries contributing significantly to global CO2 emissions. China, the United States, India, Russia and Japan respectively account for the highest amounts of CO2 emissions.
The bar graph on the right displays the total amount of CO2 emissions released by those five countries in 2020, along with their percentage contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Clearly, CO2 emissions constitute a significant share of overall greenhouse gas outputs, with notable contributions observed particularly in China and Japan.
Subsequently, the line graph traces the trajectory of CO2 emissions in those five countries, where the data reveals a significant upward trend in CO2 emissions in China. Meanwhile, the remaining countries exhibit a relatively consistent pattern in the evolution of their CO2 emissions.
Power Generation: Coal vs. Renewables
The two line graphs contrast the production of electricity from coal sources against the consumption of renewable energy. While electricity production from coal sources is following a constant trend, the nations are not doing much when it comes to renewable energy, where India is the country that uses the most renewable energy.
The Toll on Wildlife: Threatened Species
The first bar graph examines the status of threatened mammal and fish species in the top five CO2-emitting countries in 2018. The second bar graph unveils a different narrative; the bottom five countries contribute less to global emissions. While this correlation warrants further exploration, it prompts us to consider whether lower emissions may indeed be associated with a lower number of threatened species.
In response, the following recommendations are proposed to guide collaborative efforts towards a sustainable and resilient future:
Global Collaboration: Nations, particularly the top emitters, must commit to CO2 emissions reduction and participate in international initiatives to address climate change.
Renewable Energy Acceleration: All countries, especially those heavily reliant on coal, should prioritize and accelerate efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy portfolios. Investment in research, development, and implementation of sustainable energy technologies is paramount.
Conservation Initiatives: Nations with high emissions must implement robust conservation programs to mitigate the impacts on threatened species. Conversely, lower emitters should continue efforts to maintain a positive outlook for their wildlife.
Aforestation and Reforestation: Invest in afforestation (planting trees in areas that were not forested) and reforestation (replanting trees in deforested areas) projects to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Develop and implement technologies that capture and store CO2 emissions from industrial processes and power plants, preventing them from entering the atmosphere.
Public Awareness and Education: Increase public awareness about the impact of individual and collective behaviors on CO2 emissions. Education campaigns can encourage more sustainable choices in daily life.
By combining these recommendations and tailoring them to specific regional contexts,the governments, industries, and individuals can contribute to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, fostering a more sustainable and resilient planet.
Can you imagine our amazing Lebanese moderate climate that we have all loved turning into an exceptionally scorching or freezing weather condition?
Climate change has become a global concern, with impacts felt across all nations and regions. It messes up countries’ economies and comes with big costs now and in the future, affecting people, communities, and nations deeply.
This change is directly related to human actions and interventions. Only 5 countries represent the global major emitters and are mainly contributing to this effect through Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
It’s important to highlight that what’s even more concerning is the lack of substantial strategies and significant efforts by these nations to diminish their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and, in turn, global warming. China, in particular, demonstrates a noticeable upward trajectory in GHG emissions.
Can we control and minimize these green house gas emissions ? Can we prevent our climate change and have a more sustainable environment ?
CO2 , CH4 and N2O are major gases contributing to Global Warming as per below chart:
Hence, investigating the sources of these gases and identifying the most influential source contributor will unveil the underlying issue, offering a solid foundation from which to initiate efforts aimed at reducing their presence and subsequent impact
Data reveals that bad agricultural practices are major source of NO2 emissions in major emitters whereas Energy generation is the major source of Methane in this group except for India and Japan.
A central concept is that fuel usage stands as the primary driver of CO2 emissions. To delve deeper, we will analyze the predominant form of fuel consumption in each country by examining the average percentage distribution across various sources. Solid Fuel is major source in China and India, Liquid Fuel is major source in Japan and USA whereas Gaseous Fuel is major source in Russia.
Where is the fuel mainly used?
Powering the World : Exposing the insatiable hunger for energy in the captivating domains of electricity and heat production.
Potential Solution
Hence, the solution lies squarely in human actions and interventions. Opting for organic farming, free from chemical inputs, can significantly reduce harmful gas emissions. Additionally, a shift to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions, contributing further to a sustainable future and climate protection. As an example, Brazil that generates around 46 % of its energy from renewable sources generates GHG emissions that constitute just 5 % of China’s and 7 % of USA emissions.
It is not fair that only around 25 % of the globe area is the major source of GHG emissions, climate change and environmental degradation. We must transition towards more sustainable actions and behaviors to ensure a more resilient future for our planet.
Recommendation
The urgent need for a global sustainability committee is evident, and the starting point is the creation of the “Major Emitters” group. This committee aims to be a central force guiding worldwide sustainable initiatives, encouraging collaboration among nations to address environmental challenges and cultivate a resilient global ecosystem. The Major Emitters entity is positioned to lead this effort, uniting influential contributors and paving the way for collective action in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
IPSOS Update once mentioned in their monthly issue ‘What Worries the World – October 2022’ that climate change was ranked seventh in their list of 18 worries, as one in five say climate change is one of the biggest issues affecting their country. The United Nations secretary during the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which took place in the Sharm el-Sheikh, concluded by saying ‘Our planet is in the emergency room, we need to drastically reduce emissions now, and that’s why I am pushing so hard for a climate solidarity pact’. Also, climate change will drive 32-132 million more people into extreme poverty, in the next decade, estimates the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
All the above alarming reports and red titles made me re-think the direction the world is heading, is it acceptable to see climate change not being in the top 5 worries? What’s more compelling is the fact that industrial and developing countries are the ones that worry the less about it, and much more severe impacts are in store if they fail to halve greenhouse gas emissions this decade and immediately scale up adaptation; is it a welcome to the climate denial era?
This event is already impacting every corner of the world, and as a Lebanese citizen, I decided to tackle this topic in my country and its neighborhoods, the Levant countries; Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon, in hope of pushing for climate solidarity in this area.
To dig deep into the subject, I evaluated potential factors that could lead to climate change such as CO2 emissions from electricity, heat production, and manufacturing industries (in kilotons (kt)), percentage of nuclear energy used, percentage of combustible renewablesand waste, electric power consumption (kWh per capita), and greenhouse gas emissions in metric tons. It was found that:
On average, CO2 emissions have increased by 116.16% in the Levant region (from 1990 to 2020)
On average, Nitrous Oxide emissions in the energy sector have increased by 82.24% in the Levant (from 1990 to 2020)
On average, combustible renewables energy and waste (percentage of total energy) have decreased by 96.08% in the Levant (from 1990 to 2020)
The results showed that Iraq is the country with the highest CO2 emission, 174,560 kt in 2020, whereas Jordan is the last country to issue CO2 with 24,630 kt in 2020.
Also, Nitrous Oxide emission in the energy sector is significantly increasing in the region, especially in Iraq which marked a 79.60% increase between 1990 and 2020. Nitrous Oxide is almost 300 times as potent as CO2, and it depletes the stratospheric ozone layer. It is worth mentioning that Agriculture is the biggest contributor to nitrous oxide emissions, therefore, it is suggested to use low-nitrogen fuels for tractors.
An increase in the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases produces climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory from air pollution. From 1990 to 2019, the total warming effect from greenhouse gases added by humans to the Levant atmosphere increased by 5640 thousand metric tons of CO2 equivalent (-1,219 in 1990 to reach +4,421 in 2019). Lebanon scored the highest increase (between 1990 and 2019) reaching 8,087 thousand metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019.
Electric power consumption has almost doubled, CO2 emissions (from manufacturing industries, construction, heat production, and electricity), a significant decrease in combustible renewable energies and wastes, and an escalation in greenhouse gas emissions, all factors are heavily affecting the environment in the Levant region.
It is time to unify and take efficient actions toward limiting climate change and global warming in our beloved region.
Relying more on making power on-site with renewables and other climate-friendly energy resources such as installing rooftop solar panels and solar water heating, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ‘Without renewables, there can be no future’ – Invest in renewable energy technology a global public good – meaning available to all; technologies such as battery storage systems allow energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and released when people or businesses need power. Also, Levant countries in the agriculture industry should use legume crops or pastures in the rotation instead of nitrogen fertilizer. From human perception, we should plant more trees as they absorb carbon dioxide, go paperless, and save electricity and water.
“Most air pollution comes from energy use and production,” says John Walke, director of the Clean Air Project which is part of the Climate and Clean Energy program at the National Resources Defense Council. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that each year, air pollution is the major cause of the death of nearly seven million people on Earth. Air pollution has several causes such as:
Burning fossil fuels
Industrial emissions
Wildfires
CO2 and other greenhouse gases emissions
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, it is estimated that deaths due to the devastated air quality will continue to rise till 2100 and the economic value of the health benefits was estimated to be between $50 and $380 for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted.
Ever since the industrial revolution, there was an outbreak of industries in all fields ranging from mechanical production to electrical to technical. All these productions relied mostly on heavy machinery that in fact, combusted energy sources (such as fuel, oil, diesel…) and in a complex series of chemical reactions, released gases. One of those gases is Carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 by itself is not bad because it is a needed chemical in nature. However, CO2 levels in the air have been increasing drastically to the point that they have become one of the major sources in air pollution, according to MDPI.
Carbon Dioxide from electricity production:
According to the World Nuclear Association, almost 40% of the energy-related CO2 emissions are due to burning of the fossil fuels for electricity production. Because a huge part of electricity production depends on burning fuels, there will be a mass of CO2 emitted to the air. This in turn leads to high CO2 emissions, especially from the countries that depend completely on burning fuels to produce electricity. The visuals below demonstrate and prove that the regions that had the highest CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production in 2014 tended to have the highest air pollution rates. The Carbon dioxide emission rates were highest in the middle east, east Africa and east Asia compared to the low numbers of North America and Europe. The same former countries had the highest air pollution rates (PM2.5) compared to the latter. Therefore, we can conclude that the higher the dependency on fuel combustion for energy production, the higher the CO2 emission rates, the higher the air pollution rates. On the long run, this can have devastating effects on the nature, climate and humans.
What can be done?
After governments realized the devastating effects of the gaseous emissions on the air quality and on humans in general, several attempts were done, such as awareness programs among the youth, restrictive laws and advertising. However, these attempts tackled the tip of the iceberg of the problem. A solution is needed to solve the problem deep from within the roots, to prevent it from happening in the first place. Producing energy from renewables could be a potential solution. The most common renewable power technologies are through Solar, wind, biogas, geothermal, low-impact hydroelectricity and biomass. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, generating energy from renewable sources reduces air pollution, diversifies energy supply and creates economic development.
To reduce the gaseous emissions and air pollution, several countries tried to develop their technological and scientific knowledge of renewable energy production as saw a promise in using renewables, that could one day, be substituted for fuel combustion to produce energy. In fact, developed countries such as USA and the EU countries took serious initiatives to use renewable energy production. The below figures show that countries that increased their electrical energy production from renewable sources over the time period of 2005-2014 had the least air pollution rates in 2014. The EU countries and North America had the highest dependency on using renewables to produce electricity compared to the middle east, east Africa and east Asia and the former regions in turn had air pollution rates that are much lower.
Renewable energy production, therefore, is a clean energy source that can reduce Carbon dioxide emissions and in turn lead to a better, sustainable and a healthy planet that has a rich and high air quality.
Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. It is both the easiest and the most challenging issue we have ever faced. The easiest because we know what we must do. The hardest because our current economics are still totally dependent on burning fossil fuels, thereby destroying ecosystems to create everlasting economic growth.
Although there are still some countries like Africa doesn’t have total access to electricity.
Over the years, electricity consumption has increased tremendously.
So did the usage of renewable resources has also increased, but not enough compared to non-renewable resources.
It has been 10 years since top voice influencers and climate justice activists, United States presidents, and tech enthusiast CEOs were trying to fight climate change. It is known that the key to tackling the climate change crisis is to end our reliance on non-renewable energy. So, what if we try to use renewable energy for electricity? Can this reduce climate change? Can it avoid using CO2 Emissions, fuel, oil, and gas? We studied and visualized data of countries that used renewable energy and how it affected their environmental pollution compared to others that used non-renewable energy like fuel, oil, and gas. We found that developed countries that were using renewable energy had less ecological pollution by 70% approximately than countries that weren’t using renewable energy.
This descriptive statistical measure demonstrates the huge success of the use of renewable sources of energy to reduce pollution and diminish climate change. Remember there is no planet B. We live in one mother earth; we must protect it.
It is proven that the use of renewable sources of energy decreases the amount of pollution which reduces climate change and, because of this we recommend that the countries should make use of their hydropower, ocean power, wind, and solar energy for electricity and minimize the use of non-renewable energy.
