Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
A new study found that diets with lower carbon footprints are also healthier, consuming more poultry, whole grains, and plant-based proteins. Diets in the lowest-impact group had lower amounts of important nutrients, such as iron and calcium, due to lower intakes of meat and dairy.
Recent studies found that dry inland waters play a significant role in the global carbon cycle, emitting around 0.2 gigatonnes of CO2 annually. Freshwaters also act as carbon sinks when water levels are high, but emit gases when they dry out. The team suggests reservoirs as potential targets for reducing CO2 emissions from inland waters.
Researchers have created a Hybrid Na-CO2 system that efficiently produces electricity and hydrogen from CO2, eliminating carbon emissions. The system achieves high conversion efficiency of 50% and demonstrates stability for over 1,000 hours.
Scientists calculate that an area the size of Germany could suffice for artificial photosynthesis to remove 10 gigatonnes of CO2 per year. This technology could potentially balance climate carbon budget and reduce emissions. However, large investments in research and development are required to make it a reality.
A Rutgers-led study found that extending pavement life through preventive maintenance can reduce greenhouse gases, save energy, and cut transportation agency spending. The research used the LTPP database to measure the environmental impact of roadway repairs on carbon dioxide emissions linked to global warming.
New evaluation tools and global climate models will enable a more complete comparison of models to ground-based and satellite measurements. This combination can significantly reduce uncertainties in key aspects of future climate change, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.
A new study from Stanford University finds that droughts cause a 10% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington between 2001 and 2015. Drought-induced shifts in energy sources led to an additional 100 million tons of carbon dioxide across 11 western states.
New research finds that ocean acidification from carbon emissions can alter coho salmon's processing and response to smells, affecting their ability to detect predators and navigate. This study highlights the potential consequences of climate change on salmon populations.
A new study by Colorado State University researchers provides a long view of what nine different world regions have contributed to climate change since 1900. The analysis shows that China's contribution will increase as it implements clean air standards, while North America remains the largest contributor.
A study found that China, Europe, and North America experienced periods of reduced cumulative radiative forcing due to offsetting warming and cooling emissions. The regions' future contributions to CRF are expected to be larger than their past contributions, with China potentially emerging as a major contributor.
Research from the University of Technology Sydney and Duke University found that consumers significantly underestimate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with their food choices. Participants preferred items with lower carbon footprints when given clear information on labels.
Researchers found that changing agricultural practices and shifting diets away from meat and dairy products could reduce sector emissions by up to 50% by 2050. Dietary changes in overconsuming countries could contribute additional reductions of 23%, with the beef and dairy industries having high greenhouse gas intensities.
A new international study published in Nature found that organic food production requires more land, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Organic peas and winter wheat have significantly larger climate impacts than their conventional counterparts.
A recent study by an international team of researchers found that soot from road traffic in emerging countries can reach high altitudes and contribute to global warming. The reduction of pollutants from diesel cars has a positive impact on both human health and climate protection.
Researchers found that diets in wealthy nations have far higher greenhouse gas consequences than typically calculated. Shifting to plant-based diets or careful management of grazing can reduce emissions by up to 70%. The study provides a 'carbon benefits index' to assess the impact of land use changes on climate change.
Researchers have identified hydrotalcites as capable of capturing CO2 in mine tailings, potentially improving carbon sequestration beneath the surface. The study found that these minerals can trap CO2 deeper into the tailings than carbonate minerals could, offering a new approach to reducing atmospheric emissions.
Researchers from NUST MISIS developed a new hybrid catalyst for carbon monoxide oxidation using hexagonal boron nitride and silver nanoparticles, achieving full conversion at 194 degrees Celsius. Increasing silver concentration may reduce the temperature further.
A University of Bonn study suggests that bioplastics may not be as environmentally friendly as thought, as increased production could lead to land use changes and greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers found that even with a tax on conventional plastics, the benefits are temporary and offset by negative economic effects.
Global fossil fuel emissions are projected to reach a record high of over 37 billion tons in 2018, driven by growing energy demand and non-fossil source emissions. Renewables have largely come online as add-ons to fossil fuels, but more needs to be done for them to displace fossil fuels.
Global CO2 emissions are expected to reach 37.1 billion tonnes in 2018, with a solid growth in coal use for the second year in a row and sustained growth in oil and gas use. Emissions need to peak and rapidly decrease to address climate change.
Researchers at Lancaster University found that Sólheimajökull glacier releases up to 41 tonnes of methane daily during summer months, exceeding average methane loss from non-glacial rivers. This discovery highlights the potential for glaciers to be significant sources of methane in the atmosphere.
Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum have developed a new catalyst using mineral pentlandite to convert carbon dioxide into valuable source materials. The catalyst's stability and ability to produce synthetic gas mixtures make it a promising approach to combat climate change.
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology suggest that prioritizing fundamental human needs over economic growth could make it easier to reduce carbon emissions. They found that meeting subsistence and protection needs takes half of the global carbon budget, while leisure and identity take most of the other half.
A new study suggests that natural solutions in the US can equal a quarter of the nation's current net annual emissions, with increased reforestation being the largest means to achieve greater carbon storage. The study highlights various high-performing forest and land management practices to mitigate climate change.
A new study by University of Waterloo researchers finds that high carbon emissions can lead to stock price depreciation and asset devaluation. Companies in emission-intensive sectors may experience fundamental devaluations in their stocks within 10 years, due to stricter environmental regulations and climate change risks.
Researchers have discovered a way to harness the power of purple phototrophic bacteria to recover valuable biofuels from organic waste in wastewater treatment plants. By using an electric current to optimize metabolic output, they can generate hydrogen gas with near-100% carbon recovery and minimal CO2 emissions.
A NUS study found that mangroves can capture more carbon than tropical rainforests, making them a key solution to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves can store organic carbon in water-saturated soil, effectively mitigating climate change.
A study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics reveals clear seasonality of CO2 over Asia, varying with latitude, longitude, and altitude. The data shows a distinct depletion of CO2 concentration over South Asia to Southeast Asia in August to September, linked to the Asian summer monsoon anticyclone.
A recent study by Prof. Natalya Ketenci found that CO2 emissions in Russia increase along with economic growth, but only up to a certain threshold, after which they decrease. The study supports the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis, suggesting that cleaner technologies can sustain economic development.
Researchers found that around half of the 'missing' global emissions of carbon tetrachloride originated from eastern China between 2009 and 2016. Emissions have not decreased despite the phase-out of production for emissive use in 2010, with some regions potentially increasing slightly since then.
A new study found that meat and dairy products are responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions from EU diets. Reducing consumption of these food groups can help mitigate climate change.
Researchers warn that geoengineering and alternative solutions like tree planting, biochar, and NETs (negative emissions technologies) won't be enough to meet climate goals. Emission cuts remain the only sure way to limit global warming to 1.5C or less.
Untreated sewage from New York City's CSO input turns local carbon sinks into greenhouse gas producers, with methane production enhanced over 100 times and carbon dioxide by twice the rate of control group samples. The study suggests that NYC's environmental impact extends to nearby undeveloped aquatic ecosystems.
A study of 6.5 million hectares of Brazilian Amazonia found that carbon losses from El Niño forest fires were three to four times greater than expected. The analysis showed that uncontrolled wildfires in understorey areas resulted in high immediate CO2 emissions.
Increasing job accessibility can reduce carbon emissions and social inequities, but tradeoffs between these outcomes exist. Low-income residents often lack benefits from increased job accessibility, exacerbating existing social and environmental disparities.
A new analysis warns that delaying efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions could result in substantial economic costs, potentially exceeding the benefits of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. The study suggests that the remaining carbon budget for this goal is very small, requiring unprecedented scale and significant investment.
A proposed US carbon-capture network, funded by new tax credits, could capture up to 30 million metric tons of CO2 annually, doubling current global emissions reductions. The network would transfer captured CO2 from ethanol refineries in the Midwest to oilfields in Texas for enhanced oil recovery.
Researchers at the University of Delaware's Center for Catalytic Science and Technology have developed a novel two-step process to convert carbon dioxide into smaller molecules, increasing efficiency and producing ethylene and ethanol. The technology has the potential to drive chemical processes more affordably and environmentally-frie...
Researchers at UD are developing a solar-driven carbon dioxide utilization technology to produce chemicals and fuels without using fossil sources. The system aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing carbon-neutral solar electricity.
A new study estimates that the US is expected to suffer significant economic damage from climate change, with losses of around $50 per ton of carbon emissions. The study reveals that the US will pay approximately $250 billion annually due to its high level of CO2 emissions, outpacing other major economies like India and Saudi Arabia.
A new MIT study finds that 10 major European auto manufacturers produced diesel cars emitting up to 16 times more NOx on the road than in lab tests, resulting in approximately 2,700 premature deaths per year across Europe. Improving emissions control technologies could prevent up to 1,900 premature deaths annually.
A new model predicts that ocean acidification could reduce the US sea scallop population by more than 50% in 30 to 80 years, but proactive climate policy may mitigate this impact. The study combines four major factors, including future climate change scenarios, ocean acidification impacts, fisheries management policies, and fuel costs.
A new type of battery developed by MIT researchers can convert carbon dioxide into a solid mineral carbonate as it discharges. This approach could potentially reduce the cost of carbon capture systems and make them more economically viable. The battery is made from lithium metal, carbon, and an electrolyte that incorporates captured CO2.
A Stanford study suggests using government payments to incentivize the oil industry to capture more carbon dioxide from human-related sources. This could lead to a 9.5% reduction in climate emissions, even with increased oil extraction. The proposal involves a reverse Dutch auction system to pilot-test the concept.
A new study accounts for permafrost carbon release in emission budgets, showing the world may exceed Paris climate targets sooner than thought. Permafrost thaw causes large amounts of previously trapped carbon to be released into the atmosphere, making it a critical factor in estimating emission budgets.
Researchers find switching from coal to natural gas reduces air pollution, carbon emissions, but may increase water stress in some regions. A transition from coal to natural gas can have co-benefits for air quality and carbon mitigation, but trade-offs exist depending on the sector and location.
A two-year study in Vancouver and Toronto reveals large trucks are the greatest contributors to black carbon emissions close to major roadways. The study suggests retrofitting older diesel trucks with better emission treatment systems can improve air quality in cities.
A new study found that coal-fired power plants require 13 times more land to be carbon neutral than solar panel manufacturing, making solar the more efficient option. To achieve carbon neutrality with coal, 89% of US land would need to be covered in forests or optimal crops.
River greenhouse gas emissions from Siberia's Ob River peak in areas where permafrost degrades, emitting large parts of the carbon received. This finding highlights the importance of studying Western Siberian rivers' role in the global carbon cycle.
A new study sets a deadline of 2035 for governments to take decisive climate action to limit global warming below 2°C. The research found that even with strong renewable energy growth, humanity will likely cross the point of no return unless drastic emissions reductions are made immediately.
A new study suggests that low-tech ways of improving soil quality on farms and rangelands worldwide could capture significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. If instituted globally, these practices could reduce global temperatures by nearly half a degree Fahrenheit by 2100.
Research suggests that tree felling in African savannas is releasing at least three times more carbon than previously thought. The study found that degradation releases around twice as much carbon as deforestation, leading to combined losses of three to six times higher than expected.
A new study by the University of Leeds found that forests emit volatile gases, forming particles in the atmosphere that increase diffuse light. This enhanced diffuse sunlight boosts photosynthesis by up to 10% globally, mirroring 10% of global fossil fuel emissions.
Research by Carnegie Institution scientists reveals that aerosol particles from different countries have varying effects on the climate and air quality. Aerosols emitted in certain regions can cool the planet more than others, with some having a significant impact even if they are far from their source of origin.
Researchers at KAUST have combined computer analysis with laser-based measurements to understand NOx production pathways in different fuel types, finding that alcohol fuels produce up to 50% less nonthermal NOx than conventional fossil fuels.
A team of researchers led by Dr Marco Taddei at Swansea University's ESRI has found a way to utilize defects in metal-organic frameworks to capture CO2. The team investigated the role of defects in post-synthetic exchange, a process that allows MOFs to be modified through exchange of components of their structure.
A recent study by the University of Exeter suggests that replacing forests with crops for bioenergy power stations could increase CO2 in the atmosphere, while protecting and regenerating forests may be a more sensible option. The research highlights the importance of land use changes in mitigating climate change.
A new study warns that reducing greenhouse gas emissions may not be enough to avoid a 'Hothouse Earth' state, where temperatures could rise by 4-5°C and sea levels increase by 10-60m. The authors call for accelerated transition towards an emission-free world economy.
Scientists discovered that gas bubbles rising to the surface can alter volcanic gas composition, which affects eruption forecasts. The findings also suggest a new pathway for chemical changes in gases during large-scale eruptions.
Researchers suggest a system that charges drivers based on traffic volume, improving flow and reducing pollution. The proposed dynamic fee aims to make roads more efficient and equitable for all users.