tingilinde

some stories from scotland

Animal photo stories..  excellent photography and interesting text.

 

 

 

 

 

consumption based carbon emission accounting

An important and often neglected way of looking at the problem. 

(I think it's outside the PNAS paywall)

 

Consumption-based accounting of CO₂ emissions

 

Steven J. Davis and Ken Caldeira

 

Abstract

CO₂ emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are the primary cause of global warming. Much attention has been focused on the CO₂ directly emitted by each country, but relatively little attention has been paid to the amount of emissions associated with the consumption of goods and services in each country. Consumption-based accounting of CO₂ emissions differs from traditional, production-based inventories because of imports and exports of goods and services that, either directly or indirectly, involve CO₂ emissions. Here, using the latest available data, we present a global consumption-based CO₂ emissions inventory and calculations of associated consumption-based energy and carbon intensities. We find that, in 2004, 23% of global CO₂ emissions, or 6.2 gigatonnes CO₂, were traded internationally, primarily as exports from China and other emerging markets to consumers in developed countries. In some wealthy countries, including Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, the United Kingdom, and France, >30% of consumption-based emissions were imported, with net imports to many Europeans of >4 tons CO₂ per person in 2004. Net import of emissions to the United States in the same year was somewhat less: 10.8% of total consumption-based emissions and 2.4 tons CO₂ per person. In contrast, 22.5% of the emissions produced in China in 2004 were exported, on net, to consumers elsewhere. Consumption-based accounting of CO₂ emissions demonstrates the potential for international carbon leakage. Sharing responsibility for emissions among producers and consumers could facilitate international agreement on global climate policy that is now hindered by concerns over the regional and historical inequity of emissions.

 

 

the ocean option

People have used the oceans for a long time..  demand for ocean resources is increasing dramatically.

a tip of the hat to Greg

what happens when a city center goes car-free?

What happened in Ghent.  This is something of a trend in European cities.. expect more to go car-free as the decade rolls on.

 

bracing for disaster

Some conservative states are feeling the impact of global warming and are seeking billions in funding for relief.  They just can't admit it's global warming.  

To get aid they should have to admit what it is and show they are taking serious mitigation steps as well as the adaptation and disaster funding they want. 

 

 

what happens to the climate if we lose clouds

At high CO₂ concentrations much of the planet's normal cloud cover might disappear.  If so this would be an existential threat to humanity and numerous ecosystems.

a tip of the hat to Sukie

 

 

a ski wax that damages the environment

Cross-country skiers love what it does for their skiing, but fluorinated ski waxes damage the environment and are being banned in Europe. 

 

 

the alarmed population grows

For the first time the alarmed segment of Yale's Six Americas is the largest segment.  Their segmentation is a bit arbitrary, but it's a useful tool for looking at how people think about global warming. Politicians of both parties - particularly those on the right - are trailing..

 

 

fire in australia

as seen from space

 

environmental education

It may have been natural for Sweden to produce Greta.

a tip of the hat to Sukie