Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.18 Various IPCC Emission Scenarios and Corresponding CO 2
Concentration in the Atmosphere, Average Annual Temperature Rise and
Sea Level Rise by 2100
CO 2 emissions in Gt
Carbon
Increase by 2100 in:
Year
1990
2001
2020
2050
2100
dioxide Temperature Sea level
concentration
in °C
in cm
(%)
A1F1
26.0
28.7
46.5
87.6
103.4
280
3.2-5.6
18-88
A1B
26.0
28.7
46.1
60.1
49.5
210
2.1-3.8
13-70
A1T
26.0
28.7
37.7
45.1
15.8
165
1.8-3.3
12-68
A2
26.0
28.7
44.7
63.8
106.7
250
2.8-4.8
16-75
B1
26.0
28.7
38.9
41.4
15.4
150
1.4-2.6
9-57
B2
26.0
28.7
33.0
40.3
48.8
180
1.9-3.4
12-65
Source: data from IPCC, 2000; IPCC, 2001
Further possibilities for reducing carbon dioxide emissions are efficient use
of energy as well as the use of lower-carbon energy sources. Table 1.19 shows
that natural gas with the same energy content as coal produces only half the
emissions. Since the global natural gas reserves are much lower than the coal
reserves, a change to lower-carbon energy sources can only reduce emissions
temporarily.
International climatic protection
International policy has recognized the urgent need of global emission reduction
for protection of Earth's climate. Following long and difficult negotiations, the
contracting parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) agreed upon the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. It prescribes that the
industrial countries listed in Annex I of the UN framework should reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 per cent by 2012 compared to the reference
year 1990. On the other hand, it can be expected that most of the developing
and emerging countries will increase their emissions drastically. Therefore, the
compromises of the Kyoto Protocol can only reduce the speed with which the
greenhouse gas concentration is increasing in the atmosphere.
Table 1.19 Specific CO 2 Emission Factors of Various Fuels
Energy source
kg CO 2 /kWh
kg CO 2 /GJ
Energy source
kg CO 2 /kWh kg CO 2 /GJ
Wood a
0.39
109.6
Crude oil
0.26
73.3
Peat
0.38
106.0
Kerosene
0.26
71.5
Lignite
0.36
101.2
Petrol
0.25
69.3
Hard coal
0.34
94.6
Refinery gas
0.24
66.7
Fuel oil
0.28
77.4
Liquid petroleum gas
0.23
63.1
Diesel fuel
0.27
74.1
Natural gas
0.20
56.1
Note: a Unsustainable without reforestation; sustainable wood is carbon dioxide neutral
Source: UNFCCC, 1998
 
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