environmental indicators - greenhouse gas emissions
Researchers cataloguing air bubbles inside Antarctic ice believe that current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are higher than at any other time in the last 650 000 years. Over the past 50 years atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen 200 times faster than at any other time during this period.
The researchers have discovered that in the past carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere did not exceed 290 parts per million; presently, CO2 levels are around 375 parts per million. The situation is similar for methane: up from hovering at around 600 parts per billion to today's atmospheric concentration of well over 1,700 parts per billion.
According to the latest figures on greenhouse gas emissions from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, compared to 1990 levels overall emissions of developed countries were down 5.9% in 2003, from 18.4 billion to 17.3 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent. The UNFCCC emphasized however that a large part of these reductions was achieved in the early 1990s in countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Projections indicate the possibility of emission growth by 2010.
In Australia, the total aggregate emissions over the period 1990 to 2003 increased by 23.3%, the 7th highest increase of the developed countries. The US had the 11th highest increase at approximately 13%.
Such figures are not reported by the Australian government however who prefer to quote figures which take into account the land use, land use change and forestry sector, or LULUCF. When this sector is considered AustraliaÂs total aggregate emissions increased by 5% over the same period allowing the Federal Government to claim that Australia is on target for meeting its GHG emission target of 108% of 1990 levels.
All figures quoted do not include the sector of land use, land use change and forestry which can be a net source or a net sink for GHG emissions unless otherwise stated.
For more information visit the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website at http://unfccc.int
The main greenhouse gases are:
CO2 - Carbon dioxide
CH4 - Methane
N2O - Nitrous oxide
PFCs - Perfluorocarbons
HFCs - Hydrofluorocarbons
SF6 - Sulphur hexafluoride
[adding more to this - including references]
The researchers have discovered that in the past carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere did not exceed 290 parts per million; presently, CO2 levels are around 375 parts per million. The situation is similar for methane: up from hovering at around 600 parts per billion to today's atmospheric concentration of well over 1,700 parts per billion.
According to the latest figures on greenhouse gas emissions from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, compared to 1990 levels overall emissions of developed countries were down 5.9% in 2003, from 18.4 billion to 17.3 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent. The UNFCCC emphasized however that a large part of these reductions was achieved in the early 1990s in countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Projections indicate the possibility of emission growth by 2010.
In Australia, the total aggregate emissions over the period 1990 to 2003 increased by 23.3%, the 7th highest increase of the developed countries. The US had the 11th highest increase at approximately 13%.
Such figures are not reported by the Australian government however who prefer to quote figures which take into account the land use, land use change and forestry sector, or LULUCF. When this sector is considered AustraliaÂs total aggregate emissions increased by 5% over the same period allowing the Federal Government to claim that Australia is on target for meeting its GHG emission target of 108% of 1990 levels.
All figures quoted do not include the sector of land use, land use change and forestry which can be a net source or a net sink for GHG emissions unless otherwise stated.
For more information visit the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website at http://unfccc.int
The main greenhouse gases are:
CO2 - Carbon dioxide
CH4 - Methane
N2O - Nitrous oxide
PFCs - Perfluorocarbons
HFCs - Hydrofluorocarbons
SF6 - Sulphur hexafluoride
[adding more to this - including references]
posted by subaware at 8:19 AM
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