Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
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.
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.
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.
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.
A new study found that growing season gains from permafrost thaw are outweighed by increased winter respiration, leading to enhanced carbon losses. The research suggests that the Arctic's stored carbon could reach catastrophic levels within a century if permafrost continues to thaw.
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.
The EU's unilateral leadership in reducing greenhouse gases can limit the 2-degree target overshoot to 0.2-0.4°C, with lower costs for late-comers who delay action but face higher transitional challenges once they decarbonize. Carbon leakage is estimated to be small.
A new study estimates that future heat waves could double crop yield losses, particularly for maize, and offset positive CO2 fertilisation effects on wheat and soybean yields. Climate mitigation policies can help reduce risks of negative impacts on global food supply.
The Life-Seed Capital project uses rapeseed crops to improve agricultural productivity and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Rapeseed cake, a by-product of oil extraction, is used as animal feed, reducing emissions by up to 13% and improving organic matter use efficiency.
Researchers at GEOMAR found that large-scale climate intervention methods have limited benefits and significant side effects, such as accelerated global warming. The study's results highlight the need for careful consideration of the potential social, political, legal, and ethical implications of proposed climate engineering methods.
A new study reveals that targeted livestock production systems can lead to a 23% reduction in emissions from land use change within two decades. This shift would make it more profitable for farmers to expand mixed systems with higher-quality feed, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
A new Yale study reveals that ancient forest emissions and wildfires had a significant impact on global warming, even before human-generated CO2 emissions. The research found that concentrations of tropospheric ozone, aerosol particles, and methane during the Pliocene epoch were twice those observed in the pre-industrial era.
A new study found that suburban households in the US account for approximately 50% of the country's total household carbon footprint. The researchers used an analytic model and national survey data to estimate average household carbon footprints for over 30,000 zip codes and 10,000 cities and towns across all 50 states.
A new study from North Carolina State University indicates that increasing electric drive vehicle use will have little impact on reducing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide emissions. The researchers found that even if EDVs made up 42 percent of passenger vehicles, there would be limited emission reductions.
A new multi-model analysis suggests that achieving a 40% reduction in EU emissions by 2030 is feasible and would require little to no additional costs. The study, led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, found that technological innovation could help reduce costs and meet long-term climate targets.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals the US and China are among the 7 countries most accountable for global warming. The study assigns a temperature change value to each country reflecting its contribution to observed global warming, with the US responsible for a significant 20% of the observed warming.
A new study found that US power plant emissions decreased by 20-40% since the switch to natural gas with combined cycle technology, releasing significantly less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. This shift in energy production led to a reduction of 23% less CO2 in the atmosphere last year.
Researchers at TUM discovered that carbon binds to small mineral particles with rough surfaces, leading to preferential spots for sequestration. The study used a mass spectrometer to visualize and compare soil structures, revealing areas with high carbon content.
Recent studies published in Geophysical Research Letters reveal the potential link between magma chamber inflation and powerful earthquakes at Kilauea Volcano. Additionally, researchers found that seal-borne sensors provide valuable data for studying ocean conditions in the Southern Ocean.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers finds that suburban sprawl cancels out the carbon footprint savings of densely populated cities, with suburbs accounting for 50% of household emissions. Interactive maps show striking differences between urban cores and surrounding suburbs, highlighting the need for tailored climate action plans.
A recent analysis suggests that reducing livestock emissions can help mitigate climate change, particularly methane and nitrous oxide. Ruminants, such as cattle, produce copious amounts of methane in their digestive systems, with greenhouse gas emissions from these animals being 19-48 times higher than plant-based protein sources.
A new study by MIT researchers suggests that a segmental approach to emissions policies, focusing on separate targeting of energy choices and consumption through regulations or incentives, can play an important role in achieving emission reductions. This approach allows for targeted policy-making, addressing specific areas of concern w...
A new study highlights the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and bioenergy in reaching ambitious climate targets. Without policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuels will remain the major energy source by 2100, with resulting increases in emissions.
Researchers propose a method to convert CO2 into stable magnesite, which could help curb global warming by sequestering greenhouse gas emissions. The technique uses ultramafic rocks and temperatures between 53°F and 86°F to form the mineral.
Researchers from PNNL present studies on carbon sequestration in shale reservoirs, water consumption for future energy production, and how climate change affects soil microbes. Early results show clay minerals can absorb emissions under certain conditions.
The OCEAN CERTAIN project aims to improve understanding of the biological pump, a process that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in marine sediments. The four-year, $12 million project will investigate the importance of this process in shaping future climate change.
Researchers have identified regions beneath the oceans where igneous rocks can safely store large volumes of carbon dioxide. The stored CO2 would be locked away for centuries, preventing its release into the atmosphere or oceans.
A new paper by James Hansen and colleagues assesses the impacts of global warming, concluding that drastic emission reductions are needed to stabilize the climate. A call for papers on responses to climate change has been issued, with a focus on alternative energy development, environmental preservation, and ecosystem restoration.