Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
Researchers have developed a new type of energy-efficient flat light source using highly crystalline single-walled carbon nanotubes as field emitters, demonstrating potential for low-power lighting devices. The device has a brightness efficiency of 60 Lumen per Watt and requires only 0.1 Watt of power consumption.
Scientists from EPFL, UC Berkeley, and Beijing have combined solid and liquid materials to create a hybrid absorption-adsorption method that captures CO2 more efficiently than current methods. The new approach uses a slurry of ZIF-8, a metal-organic framework, with glycol, allowing for low-cost and energy-efficient carbon capture.
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research found that forest fragmentation results in up to a fifth more carbon dioxide being emitted by vegetation, with an estimated loss of over 68 million tonnes of carbon in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in ten years.
A new model developed by Argonne National Laboratory scientists predicts that peatlands in the Arctic will release more methane and less carbon dioxide as they warm, significantly affecting climate change forecasts. The research aims to improve greenhouse gas emission models and address concerns about accelerated warming in the Arctic.
A new study from Harvard, Syracuse, and Boston University scientists reveals that strong carbon standards for power plants can significantly reduce air pollution and provide substantial human health benefits. The research estimates that such standards could prevent thousands of premature deaths and hospitalizations every year in the US.
A new study estimated carbon emissions from cropland expansion in Northeast China between 1680 and 1980, finding forest reclamation accounted for 60% of total emissions. The conversion of non-forest ecosystems also played a significant role in triggering carbon emissions.
A recent study by UC Irvine researchers suggests that relying on natural gas to reduce emissions will have minimal effect. The study found that high gas usage can delay the construction of low-carbon energy facilities, ultimately leading to increased cumulative emissions.
A CU-led study found that emission caps and encouraging renewable energy are effective strategies for reducing power plant emissions. The study's findings have significant implications for the EPA's Clean Power Plan and suggest a bottom-up approach to climate mitigation.
The Global Carbon Project predicts a 2.5% rise in CO2 emissions in 2014, reaching a record 40 billion tons, surpassing the 1,200 billion-ton quota for limiting global warming to 2°C. This could lead to climate change catastrophe if not addressed immediately.
Malaysia's 'smart villages' offer a global model for poverty relief, tripling monthly income to US $475 per family. The country is also implementing low-carbon cities with solar-generated power and biomass energy.
Aalto University researchers have developed a pilot plant that converts CO2 and steel slag into PCC, a highly valuable resource. This innovative process reduces greenhouse gas emissions and minimizes waste, offering significant economic and environmental benefits for industries.
Approval of Keystone XL would increase oil sands extraction, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions, according to a survey of experts. The study suggests that KXL could raise CO2 emissions by 1-40 million metric tons per year, depending on market responses.
A new approach estimates CO2 emissions from fossil fuels at a global scale, providing detailed information for policy-makers. The 'Fossil Fuel Data Assimilation System' (FFDAS) uses satellite feeds, national fuel accounts, and power plant data to create high-resolution planetary maps.
African green revolution could boost land use and carbon emissions, contrary to previous successful initiatives in Asia and Latin America. Researchers warn of potential environmental consequences despite potential long-term benefits like cheaper food and reduced poverty.
Improving agricultural productivity in Africa could lead to an increase in global deforestation rates and carbon emissions. However, the study found that if markets become more integrated, the negative effects of a green revolution in Africa will diminish over time.
A Yale study finds that the conversion of forests to cropland worldwide has reduced global BVOC emissions, leading to a net cooling effect on climate temperatures. The loss of dark-colored forests and reduction in emissions of short-lived climate pollutants have offset warming caused by increased fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions.
A study published in Yale's Journal of Industrial Ecology found that Blu-ray Discs delivered via retail stores caused lower carbon emissions than game files downloaded over broadband Internet. The majority of emissions resulted from gameplay, production, and distribution.
A new study from Princeton University and the University of California-Irvine finds that future coal-fired and natural-gas power plants will commit the world to decades and billions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The 'commitment accounting' method assigns all future emissions to the year a facility begins working, revealing a sig...
A new study estimates that more than 40% of global waste is burned in unregulated fires, releasing pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, and mercury. These emissions have been linked to serious medical issues, including decreased lung function and cancer.
A study by UC Irvine and Princeton University found that existing power plants will emit approximately 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide over their lifetimes. The emissions growth rate is around 4% per year, largely driven by the rapid expansion of coal-burning power plants in countries like China and India.
Researchers found that carbon-reduction policies can lead to significant health savings, with benefits ranging from 26% to 10.5 times the cost of implementation. A transportation policy was the most expensive option, costing over $1 trillion in 2006 dollars, while a clean energy standard fell between the costs of other policies.
A new study suggests that exporting US coal to power plants in South Korea could lead to a 21 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the economic benefits of such exports would come with increased water use, land degradation, and potential harm to fish and wildlife habitats.
Researchers estimate that shale oil and gas production provides a $302 billion yearly dividend to the US economy. Implementing an emission-reducing plan would reduce this dividend by half, but still leave significant gains. A carbon tax is considered the most efficient way to balance emissions reduction with economic benefits.
Researchers argue that 'transport taboos' such as frequent travel and lobby influence are driving contradictory policies. Politicians ignore evidence on effective solutions to cut emissions, instead relying on optimistic headlines about technological innovation.
New research by the University of Southampton suggests that air traffic growth rates will surpass carbon reduction efforts unless demand is substantially reduced. To achieve emission reductions, ticket prices must rise by at least 1.4% annually.
Research reveals thermokarst lakes in Arctic regions act as climate coolers over longer time scales, storing more carbon than emitting. The study finds that these lakes, which form from thawing permafrost, absorb significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that the slowdown in global warming between 1998 and 2013 was due to a natural cooling fluctuation, rather than human-induced emissions. The study uses statistical analysis to identify patterns consistent with pre-industrial temperature swings.
New research finds that beef cattle are responsible for far more greenhouse gas emissions than other types of animals, accounting for 74% of livestock-related emissions. The study estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from livestock have increased by 51% over the past nearly half a century.
Researchers found that arctic thermokarst lakes switch from a net radiative warming to a net cooling climate effect about 5000 years ago. The lakes' carbon uptake rates are among the highest in the world due to the fertilization of mosses and other plants by thawing permafrost.
A new study by Monash University found that implementing efficiency measures addressing climate change can reduce water consumption. Energy efficiency measures, such as wind power and solar photovoltaics, were identified as key options for saving water while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Eranda Nikolla's research aims to improve energy efficiency and lessen environmental pollutants by developing robust solid-state electrochemical systems. Her project will utilize a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques to design efficient electrocatalysts for CO2 conversion, producing syngas.
A comprehensive study by University of Chicago climatologist Raymond Pierrehumbert finds that reducing CO2 emissions is essential for mitigating climate change. The study shows that efforts to reduce other, shorter-lived greenhouse gases are insufficient and may even distract from the urgent need to address CO2 emissions.
A global study suggests that capturing CO2 emissions is essential to meet ambitious climate targets. Bioenergy and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies can help reduce non-electric energy-related emissions, but their risks need to be investigated further.
A NIOSH study reveals extremely hazardous carbon monoxide concentrations can accumulate near rear decks of uncontrolled gasoline-powered generators on houseboats. Innovative engineering controls have reduced exposure by up to 99 percent, enhancing safer working environments for boat users.
Researchers found that aircraft can contribute less to global warming by flying routes that avoid forming distinctive condensation trails, or contrails. By doing so, they emit more carbon dioxide but may have a smaller overall climate impact due to the cooling effect of contrails.
The Mediterranean Sea's iconic ecosystems, such as sea grass meadows and coral reefs, are facing rapid decline due to acidification and warming. Research suggests that human society worldwide must reduce fossil fuel emissions to save these ecosystems from extinction.
A four-step compromise is proposed to share the burden of carbon reductions, reducing actors involved in initial efforts, switching to consumption-based carbon accounting, redistributing the burden based on responsibility and capability, and bringing changes back to the larger U.N. group for inclusive emissions management
Agriculture accounts for 80% of human-caused nitrous oxide emissions, which rise faster than expected when fertilizer rates exceed crop needs. Applying more precise amounts of nitrogen-based fertilizer can help combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing tropical deforestation significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to one-fifth. Tropical forests absorb almost two billion tonnes of carbon annually, but human activities like logging and biofuel production lead to equivalent losses.
A study reveals how Brazil reduced deforestation while increasing agriculture production, with a combination of public policies and market incentives driving change. The country's success could be replicated globally, but fragile results may be short-lived without positive incentives for farmers.
The current state of knowledge on wildland fire emissions highlights critical gaps in understanding their impact on climate and terrestrial carbon cycling. Scientists emphasize the importance of continued research to address these knowledge gaps.
Harvard researchers found forests in the Eastern US are showing signs of spring growth earlier than ever, enabling them to store up to 26 million metric tons more CO2. However, continued climate change may lead to more dramatic negative consequences, such as changes in precipitation patterns and reduced water availability for forests.
EPFL-led consortium develops new cement blend that substitutes up to half of Portland cement, promising to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40%. The new blend, called LC3, is stronger and more robust than traditional cement, thanks to synergistic chemistry between calcined clay and ground limestone.
A new UCLA-led report concludes that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the primary way to combat global warming. The study finds that technology already available can reduce carbon emissions by up to 7 gigatons per year, but political support for emission reduction is lacking.
A new study suggests that switching to video streaming from traditional DVD methods can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption. Streaming requires less energy than buying or renting DVDs, which also emits more CO2 due to driving and data transmission.
A Los Alamos National Laboratory team verified air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from two coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners area using space-based techniques. The study found that emissions from the San Juan Generating Station are less polluting than those from the nearby Four Corners Generating Station.
A new study evaluates the environmental impact of biocontainers in commercial greenhouse production, finding minor differences in global warming potential compared to traditional plastic containers. The researchers suggest that using more efficient lighting sources could have a greater impact on overall sustainability.
The report suggests that reducing global beef consumption, reducing food waste, and improving farm nutrient management can deliver big climate wins while maintaining food security. Implementing these strategies could cut over three gigatonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Researchers at Monash University have modelled a carbon-based spaser that could enable the creation of ultra-thin mobile phones printed on clothing. The device offers advantages such as high temperatures resistance, eco-friendliness, and flexibility, paving the way for innovative applications in telecommunications.
A study published in Nature Climate Change found that using corn crop residue to make ethanol and other biofuels reduces soil carbon but generates more greenhouse gases than gasoline, casting doubt on its climate benefits. Researchers suggest planting cover crops or alternative feedstocks to mitigate emissions.
A University of California, Riverside researcher has won a $500,000 grant to study a process that transforms carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals using a unique catalyst. The technology has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons per year or more.
A study by researchers at KU Leuven predicts that deforestation in the Congo Basin could increase temperatures by 1.4 °C by 2050, with an additional 0.7 °C from deforestation-induced warming. This could lead to drastic temperature increases, threatening plant and animal species with extinction.
A breakthrough in amplifier design for mobile phone masts could reduce CO2 emissions by around 0.5 million tonnes a year, with an estimated saving of half a mid-size power station's output if 10,000 base stations were fitted.
A new study by McGill University professor Shaun Lovejoy uses statistical analysis to determine the probability that global warming since 1880 is due to natural variability. The study concludes that the natural-warming hypothesis can be ruled out with confidence levels greater than 99%, and most likely greater than 99.9%.
Researchers argue that current climate models fail to accurately capture the economic costs of climate change, leading to underestimated damage and ineffective policy decisions. To improve this, scientists must collaborate and update their models more frequently.
Researchers at Winrock International have developed a new method to estimate carbon emissions from forest degradation caused by selective logging in tropical regions. The approach measures logging-associated emissions from extracted timber, surrounding forest damage, and infrastructure.
A Yale University-led study finds that using more wood and less steel and concrete in building and bridge construction can reduce global carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel consumption. Sustainable management of wood resources can achieve both goals while maintaining biodiversity and reducing fossil fuel burning.
A recent study at Chalmers University of Technology found that greenhouse gas emissions from food production threaten the UN's 2-degree Celsius limit for global warming. Reducing meat and dairy consumption could bring agricultural climate pollution down to safe levels, but broad dietary change can take time.
A study by two students at Linköping University found that aquatic environments in India emit 42% of expected natural carbon dioxide equivalents, highlighting the importance of reducing fossil carbon emissions. Methane accounts for 71% of these emissions, providing a potential pathway to reduction through water pollution mitigation.
Carbon markets are emerging at the state and global levels, teaching valuable lessons on what works and what doesn't in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite challenges, these markets have expanded to cover a substantial share of global emissions and encouraged modest reductions.