StoneRoad2013's photos with the keyword: emissions

CO2 emissions, or the relative lack of them, is a surrogate measure for level of economic development. [these are national averages over approximately a decade [I think the period 2008/2010 to 2018/20 was used ...] . . . Not my Image ; fair use & public information

China and to a lesser extent, India - as well as "all others" - still have rapid rises in their carbon dioxide emissions, whereas Europe and the USA have slightly lowered theirs in the latter part of the time period shown. The downtick & uptick for 2020 - 2021 is due to the lockdowns attempting to control the spread of infection during the pre-vaccine period of the Covid-19 pandemic. . Despite the Paris protocols and more recently the COP26 pledges to reduce CO2 emissions, there is still a very serious risk of global temperature rises exceeding the targets leading to climate change. . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

This highlights the relative changes in these two areas. Note the significant changes in "Industry" and "Land & Forestry" - For Northumberland, the former is the closure of the Lynmouth Aluminium smelter and the later is mainly felling trees & replanting in Kielder Forest. . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

Northumberland's reduction in CO2 during this period was probably due to the closure of the smelter at Lynmouth and the associated power station. {Although, in 2022, I believe this now relies on Biomass for fuel instead of the previously locally-mined coal. I don't think this takes into account the [net] removal of CO2 by the trees in the extensive areas of Kielder Forest, which is in Northumberland]. . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

A stark reminder that even the pledges made at COP26 [Glasgow, November 2021] still leave a huge shortfall between where we are and where we will need to be in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. This also assumes that all of the existing pledges - at the national scale - will be met. . It looks like an impossible challenge. . However, there are a lot of things that can be done by individuals, alongside industry and politicians, towards reaching these targets. Even making small changes, if enough do it, the totals will be significant. Some other images in this album may have some ideas that will help with this ... . For example, some things I have done ... a) I used to make a 500 car mile journey every two or three weeks - not any more. b) Over the past couple of decades or so, I have planted over 200 trees and shrubs, mostly to provide areas of better wildlife habitat. The maintenance [pruning & thinning] of that area is now producing enough material for some heating in my home and reducing reliance on LPG. c) reducing the proportion of "high carbon" meat and "high mileage" foods in my diet. . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

Sulphur Dioxide - a gas produced by burning certain fossil fuels & waste plastics - is soluble in water, which then falls as "acid rain". It is classed as an "indirect greenhouse gas" In Europe, this was found to be killing forests in Norway, Sweden and elsewhere. The main source was determined to be coal-fired power stations, also domestic heating and industry. The cure was to retro-fit equipment to "scrub" the flue gases in power stations - making gypsum in the process - and to use low-sulphur fuels. . . Not my Image : Fair Use & public information

Changing proportions of energy sources in USA over the past three decades. Despite the technology available, the USA is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Hence their significant output - both totals and per capita - of greenhouse gases like CO2 which cause global warming aka climate change. Although the relative proportions have changed [less coal but more natural gas] and there has been a drop since the mid-2000s, there is still an overall increased use in energy. [Trump's running away from the Paris Agreement didn't help solve the problem - the USA should be setting a better example] . . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

In the past decade, India's CO2 emissions have greatly increased, especially the proportions from Coal [power stations] and "other" sources. Mainly due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. A pity that India [& China] have not by-passed the coal-dependent stages of economic development. . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information.

[First count - well over 60 ... second count 67] That's a lot of coal-fired power stations, in a country that had already produced 11,535 megatonnes of CO2 in 2019. CO2 - greenhouse gas - emissions are a major driver of climate change. . . Not my Image : Fair Use & public information

The most significant emissions in Europe are from Germany, as shown by this map. Although the UK, France, Poland, Italy, Spain and Belgium also emit large amounts. There is a long way to go before Europe reaches a carbon neutral position. . . Not my Image : Fair Use & public information.

Interesting comparisons here, the per capita figure is particularly revealing. Just imagine the climate problem the world would have if China emitted CO2 at the same per capita rate as that of the USA. [In that scenario - emissions would be almost double the 2019 figure]. . . Not my Image : Fair Use & public information

Although there has been a lot of variation between the mean temperature for individual years, there has been an overall increase between c1880 and 2020, even with the slight drop in the 1950s. One of the lowest appears to be c1962/3 which I remember as being a particularly hard and long winter. . So, what changed ... In the 1950s, private car ownership began expanding. Home central heating started being installed in new houses, and there was a baby / housing boom. Industry, even the traditional heavy users of coal, began a period of boom - ever increasing production. More nations became industrialised, greater international trade, all of the post WW2 "brave new world" ... . All these changes would have increased carbon dioxide emissions, and other waste materials polluting the atmosphere and the environment on top of, and amplifying the natural process of warming up after a glacial episode. What was, initially referred to as the "Greenhouse affect" then "global warming" and now "climate change emergency". . . . Not my Image : Fair Use & public information

Comparison of particulates pollution [main cause of urban smog] in the UK during the 2020 lockdown, with the average figures for 2015-19. Data from nine conurbations. There are some striking images showing the clearer air during Lockdowns. The main source of these particulates will be internal combustion engines, specifically old and poorly maintained diesels, but also from the oil-burning by some older petrol engines. Also, some public transport vehicles are contributing to this problem. Plus, using fuel oil for heating buildings and some industrial processes can add to the smog. Unfortunately, re-opening the economy without choosing "greener" transport etc modes has reversed the situation, so any gains [reduction in pollution] was very shortlived. . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

Even the UK would be affected by rises in world temperatures ["global warming" or the "greenhouse affect"] and these anomalies will also have further affects in the general weather patterns [mainly rainfall] and hence flooding & average sea level. . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

A striking graphic. Even a rise of 1.5 C will be problematical for many countries. I was hopeful that the promises made in Paris [2015] would make a start in reducing the seemingly ever larger increases in CO2 emissions. But some of the largest emitters are still, in 2021, building new fossil-fuel [coal] powered electricity generating stations. {looking straight at China} . . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

Emissions of CO2 are a serious worldwide problem in driving [accelerating global warming] climate change, & not the only one. The 27 countries of the EU [in 2018, includes the UK] combined are third ... . From another graphic - data from 2014 - electricity generation produced 44% of the excess CO2. Although lots of little, individual changes for the better will combine to help the picture, moving to cleaner, non-carbon sources of power will be even more significant. . The drop in worldwide emissions during early 2020 [lockdowns in Covid-19 pandemic] was interesting to observe, but "re-opening the economy" and recent wildfires have quickly negated those gains. . Not my Image ; Fair Use & public information

Interesting graphic. Note the level of carbon dioxide emitted by electricity generation. Personally, I think - reducing that percentage has to be a prime target in order to "hit" the temperature increase targets, just about everything else - whilst still important in the overall picture - is nibbling at the edges ! Not my Image : Fair use & educational purposes.