Carbon Dioxide
CO2 emissionsThe source for carbon dioxide emissions are the estimates of the Carbon Dioxide Information and Analysis Center (CDIAC; Marland et al, 2004). Global, regional, and national annual estimates of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning, cement production, and gas flaring have been calculated, some as far back as 1751. These estimates, derived primarily from energy statistics published by the United Nations, were calculated using the methods of Marland and Rotty (1984). Cement production estimates from the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Mines were used to estimate CO2 emitted during cement production. Emissions from gas flaring were derived primarily from U.N. data but were supplemented with data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, Rotty (1974), and with a few national estimates provided by G. Marland.
According to the HYDE/EDGAR study (van Aardenne et al. ,2001) the overall global anthropogenic CO2 emissions have increased from 1.16 Pg CO2-C in 1890 to 7.08 Pg CO2-C in 1990, which is an almost 6-fold increase. The contributions by biofuel- and fossil fuel combustion emissions increased with a factor 2 and 13, respectively. It is clear that energy use has been the major contributor to the total carbon dioxide emissions throughout this century (86% in 1890 and 91% in 1990). Within the energy sector the share of biofuel combustion has declined from 55% in 1890 to 21% in 1990, while the contribution of fossil fuel combustion increased from 31% to 69%. CO2 emissions caused by deforestation, fossil fuel production and industrial activity (cement production) also show a relatively large increase, but these sectors contribute little to the total CO2 emissions. The HYDE/EDGAR estimate is presented in this table.
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