Articles tagged with Carbon Emissions
A new study documents how climate, population density and factors affect GHG emissions in global cities, with Denver releasing the largest amount of gases and Barcelona the smallest. The study identifies strategies for reducing emissions, including carbon reduction and efficient transportation systems.
The Field Museum has received a three-year grant to establish new conservation landscapes in Amazonian Peru. The project aims to secure legal protection for high-priority forests and indigenous territories, while also promoting sustainable management and financing through the REDD voluntary carbon market.
Researchers at MIT have developed a pressurized oxy-fuel combustion system that reduces energy penalty and increases efficiency of carbon capture systems for power plants. The technology aims to make carbon sequestration more practical and affordable, helping to curb global climate change.
The authors emphasize the need for radical reductions in CO2 emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change, highlighting its impact on global health and human well-being. They advocate for a low-carbon diet, clean power, and sustainable agriculture to achieve a healthier and more equal society.
A new scrubbing process developed by PNNL uses acid gas-binding organic liquids to capture sulfur dioxide, CO2, and other acid gases. This process requires less energy than current methods and can capture double the amount of harmful gases.
Researchers at Caltech have identified epoxides as a key player in atmospheric chemistry, finding that these chemicals can form secondary organic aerosol. This process has significant implications for human health and climate change.
A recent study by Oregon State University statisticians reveals that having one less child can significantly reduce an individual's carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact. The research found that the average long-term carbon impact of a child born in the U.S. is more than 160 times greater than that of a child born in Bangladesh.
A new scientific discussion paper highlights the profound impact of human activity on the world's oceans, with carbon emissions affecting marine biological processes and threatening food security. The study warns that rates of physical change in the oceans are unprecedented and may lead to major shifts in marine ecosystems.
A Cornell study found that regulating traffic density and encouraging public transportation can significantly impact local air quality. The Chinese government's measures during the 2008 Olympics resulted in notable reductions in car emissions of black carbon, carbon dioxide, and ultrafine particles.
A new set of policy briefs from Carnegie Mellon University recommends a uniform regulatory environment to support large-scale deployment of carbon sequestration technology in the US. The team proposes an adaptive two-stage approach to regulation and specific changes to federal law and agency rules to address regulatory and legal barriers.
A new method for capturing CO2 from flue gas has been developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The approach uses ionic liquids as a solvent to separate carbon dioxide from its source, overcoming the shortcomings of existing methods, such as non-selectivity and corrosiveness.
A new method developed by Princeton University scientists can divide carbon emissions responsibility among countries more fairly, targeting high polluters globally. The approach uses individual emissions to calculate a nation's responsibility to curb its output of carbon dioxide.
Researchers found that plants played a critical role in maintaining stable carbon dioxide levels during the last ice age, preventing runaway 'icehouse' conditions. The team's discovery highlights the importance of plant buffering agents in controlling atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
The study found that hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will become an increasingly larger factor in future climate warming if business-as-usual trends continue. By 2050, HFC emissions could contribute 7-12% to climate change, exceeding CO2's current contribution.
A new study found that geoengineering solutions to counter global warming would have a minimal impact on ocean acidification, which threatens coral reefs and marine life. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is considered a more effective safeguard against climate change.
Researchers have discovered a direct relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and global warming, allowing for the estimation of climate change based on cumulative carbon emissions. The study suggests that limiting total carbon emissions is crucial to avoid dangerous climate change.
A new report finds that paying to conserve billions of tons of carbon stored in tropical forests could also protect endangered large mammals like orangutans and pygmy elephants. The study, published in Conservation Letters, demonstrates a link between forest protection and biodiversity conservation.
A new study suggests that including land use changes in greenhouse gas control strategies can lead to lower costs and preserved forests. The study found that valuing terrestrial carbon emissions can reduce the cost of reducing global emissions by half compared to only taxing industrial and fossil fuel emissions.
Researchers found that tundra plant growth may initially keep up with rising CO2, but ultimately can't soak up excess carbon from thawing permafrost. This could lead to a significant increase in atmospheric carbon, highlighting the urgent need to address human-caused emissions.
Scientists from the POLARCAT campaign found that agricultural fires in Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and other countries are releasing large amounts of soot into the atmosphere, accelerating melting of snow and ice. This report highlights the importance of controlling these emissions as a supplemental strategy to reduce carbon dioxide.
A new analysis by the MIT Integrated Global Systems Model suggests that climate change could be twice as severe as initially estimated, with a median probability of surface warming of 5.2 degrees Celsius by 2100. The study found that improved economic modeling and newer data on emissions are contributing to this increased risk.
Researchers discovered that sweltering summers in the southeastern US can lead to a cooling haze due to the mixing of manmade pollutants with natural compounds from forests and vegetation. This effect was found to be significant enough to outpace carbon dioxide emissions' warming effects by 2-to-1.
The $9.16m Carbon Benefits Project aims to encourage sustainable development schemes that generate climate adaptation, mitigation and conservation benefits. The innovative web-based system will measure and model greenhouse gas emissions produced and stored in soil and vegetation.
A NASA study estimates that climate change fuels Asian wildfires, increasing carbon dioxide emissions by a factor of 10 during dry El Niño years. The research used satellite data and computer models to analyze the impact of drought on fire spread and intensity in regions like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
A new report emphasizes the importance of retrofitting existing UK buildings to reduce carbon emissions. The UK's 24 million existing buildings would need significant attention to reduce their emissions by just 40%, with large-scale refurbishment being only part of the answer.
A new study reveals that biofuels could hasten climate change due to the destruction of tropical rainforests. The study found that it will take over 75 years for carbon emissions saved through biofuel use to compensate for the carbon lost when these forests are converted into plantations.
A new analysis suggests that drastic emission cuts could stabilize climate change, saving Arctic ice and reducing sea level rise. Global temperatures would still rise, but the most dangerous impacts could be partially avoided with a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists warn that natural carbon sinks like forests and oceans are struggling to keep pace with increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This shift could lead to drastic consequences for climate change predictions.
Aarhus University's conference emphasized the need for integrated policies to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity. The '7 Aarhus Statements' call for increased agricultural productivity, sustainable energy solutions, and citizen empowerment in addressing climate change.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide could lead to coral reef dissolution as acidification and rising temperatures threaten global coral health. Research models predict that if CO2 levels double, most coral reefs will experience significant calcification rate reductions.
A 30-year study reveals that drought causes massive carbon loss in tropical forests, mainly through killing trees, posing significant threat to climate change mitigation. The Amazon forest absorbs nearly 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually but lost more than 3 billion tonnes during the 2005 drought.
A Duke University-led study found that converting land to conservation reserves is a cheaper and more efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions than using it for corn-based ethanol production. The researchers suggest that cellulosic ethanol production, which uses switchgrass or other species, may be a better option in the future.
Mudslides caused by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake may release significant amounts of greenhouse gas, including carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, into the atmosphere. The study found that the ecosystem impacts of these mudslides could be equivalent to twice the loss of nitrogen from California ecosystems due to wildfires.
A new study estimates that commercial ships emit about 1,100 tons of particle pollution annually, posing significant health concerns for coastal communities and affecting global climate. Ship emissions also contribute to smog-forming nitrogen oxide gases.
A new study by the American Geophysical Union estimates that commercial ships emit 0.9 teragrams of particulate pollution annually, contributing almost 30% of smog-forming nitrogen oxide gases. The study highlights the significant health risks to coastal communities due to ship pollutants.
A new carbon dioxide map of the US has been released on Google Earth, showing hourly and geographic emissions data for various fossil fuel sources. The map is an unprecedented inventory of CO2 emissions from different types of fossil fuel, offering insights into climate change.
Researchers used bimonthly CO2 measurements from 16 aircraft sites to create a monthly 3D picture of CO2 over North America. They found moderate CO2 sink areas, especially in the Midwest and Southeast, which agree with estimates of crop uptake and forest regrowth.
The IPCC Fifth Assessment will incorporate new studies predicting more severe changes than previous assessments. Tropical forests could become carbon sources due to wildfires and warming temperatures.
Research shows that putting a price on carbon dioxide emitted by different land use practices can significantly change how land is used. The study found that addressing the land-based carbon is essential for stabilizing greenhouse gases at low levels.
A Georgia Tech study shows that hybrid vehicles and higher density cities could significantly reduce CO2 emissions from cars and trucks by 2050. The research found that doubling population density in large US cities would have a greater impact on CO2 reductions than full hybridization of the vehicle fleet.
A new study finds that oil and gas production in the Barnett Shale area can contribute significantly to smog formation in Dallas-Fort Worth, with emissions comparable to those from all cars and trucks. The study also highlights the potential for cost-effective control strategies to reduce emissions.
Research by the University of Exeter found that delivering organic vegetable boxes can result in lower carbon emissions than visiting a local farm shop, especially for customers making long-distance trips. The study suggests that a more nuanced approach is needed to understand the environmental impact of food production and distribution
Scientists embark on three-year project to measure carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases worldwide, shedding light on their distribution and impact on climate change. The research will enable better predictions of greenhouse gas emissions and inform society's decisions about climate change mitigation.
Researchers propose using crop varieties with high solar reflectivity to reduce regional warming, equivalent to offsetting 20% of CO2 emissions. This approach is seen as a low-cost alternative to geoengineering and can help mitigate agricultural and health impacts of heat waves.
A recent study published in Science reveals that three to 15 per cent of the oceans' calcium carbonate comes from fish intestines. This discovery could help solve a mystery of rapid ocean acidification due to global CO2 emissions.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that greenhouse gas emissions from biofuel production can be mitigated with sustainable land use practices. Effective crop management techniques, such as no-till farming and planting cover crops, can reduce the time it takes for biofuels to overcome their carbon debt.
By selecting crop varieties with higher solar reflectivity, researchers estimate a global cooling of over 0.1°C, equivalent to 20% of the total global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution. The study proposes issuing farmers with carbon credits for growing such crops.
Research suggests that increased carbon dioxide levels due to climate change could lead to a greater accumulation of mercury in soils, potentially slowing its release into water. However, this means that even with reduced emissions, the metal will remain a pollution source for an extended period.
Researchers propose a hybrid cap-and-trade system with controlled permits to reduce emissions uncertainty. A second paper suggests a modified carbon tax to protect poorer households. The third paper highlights the flexibility of tradable permits in allocating emissions value.
Researchers argue that geoengineering solutions to climate change are unrealistic due to the complexity of the Earth's climate system. The concept of injecting particles into the stratosphere to reduce global warming is highly uncertain and requires massive infrastructure investments.
A new study explores ways to target the compensation provided by free emission allowances under a CO2 cap and trade policy. Granting limited allowances can help compensate firms that benefit from the program, but may be costly to administer. The researchers suggest using targeted compensation methods to reduce costs.
A study by University of Rhode Island scientists finds that elevated CO2 levels will reduce jumbo squid's oxygen consumption rate and activity levels, affecting their feeding behavior. The researchers predict that the squids may migrate to northern climes to escape CO2 and oxygen stress.
Stanford researchers predict more frequent heat waves, higher temperatures, and increased crop losses in California. Average temperatures are expected to rise 4-9 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 50-100 years, with potential impacts on crops like cherries, peaches, and grapes.
A new study by NCAR and University of Colorado warns that developing countries will struggle to afford and implement efficient technologies, exacerbating global warming. The research suggests that even advanced nations are worsening the outlook for global warming due to increasing emissions.
Scientists investigate oil spray as a mitigation technique for reducing methane and carbon dioxide emissions from pig barns. The study found that oil spray techniques reduced average emissions by 20% for methane and 19% for carbon dioxide.
A recent study analyzing satellite data reveals a significant link between drought and deforestation in equatorial Asia, leading to increased global warming. The practice of using fire to clear forests releases substantial amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
A comprehensive analysis by CIFOR offers options to address forest destruction and degradation's role in global greenhouse gas emissions. The report suggests integrating REDD with tighter emissions targets for a more ambitious climate strategy.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology has received a $1.6-million grant to improve and expand CLASLite, a user-friendly method for mapping tropical forests from desktops. The technology will help rainforest nations monitor their changing carbon budgets and advance deforestation and degradation mapping in Latin America.
Researchers found that using cover crops, manure, and compost can increase short-term carbon sequestration rates and reduce global warming potential. This win-win option for energy and environment is made possible by proper management of bioenergy cropping systems.
The World Agroforestry Centre argues that existing technology can effectively monitor carbon storage in developing countries, potentially saving more carbon than closing 1,400 coal-burning power plants. Implementing carbon markets could generate $10 billion annually for rural poor communities.