Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Capita Per Year Among Countries Considering Methane Emissions

Zhang Yu,Yang Shanshan,Su Mingshan

doi:10.11648/j.earth.20200905.18

Abstract

The cumulative emissions of CO2 and CH4 had a great impact on the global climate, and the responsibility of countries around the world to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emission control goals should be based on the concept of fairness and sustainable development. In this paper, from the perspective of interpersonal equity, based on the annual GHG emissions per capita, using the CO2 and CH4 emissions data of 23 major countries from 1961 to 2017, the ratio for GHG emission per capita per year and the ratio for carbon dioxide emission per capita per year in various countries were calculated with 1961 and 1990 as the starting years, the countries were also sequenced and sorted to analyze the extent to which major countries occupy limited global emissions space at different time scales and GHG ranges. The results showed that the ratio of GHG emission per capita per year in developed countries such as the United States and Canada were far higher than the world average, China was significantly lower than the average, India was much lower than the average. In addition, lengthening the time scale and incorporating the methane emissions from the planting and breeding industry (agriculture activities) had a significant impact on the the ratio of GHGemission per capita and national classification. It can be more conducive to judge the world's average annual GHG emissions, reflect the global emission space occupied by each countries comprehensively and objectively, and scientifically support policymakers in formulating action plan for GHGemission reduction and control, which was of practical significance.

Highlights

Climate change is a global challenge that matters for the living environment of humans and the development as well as prosperity of all countries
The ratio for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions space usage of the top two countries, i.e. the United States and Australia, exceeded 4, and equals to 15.25 and 14.78 times that of the lowest ranking India respectively, indicating that the ratio for GHG emissions space usage of developed countries such as the United States and Australia were greater than the world average and far higher than that of developing countries, which occupied excessively limited global emission space
The following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Between 1961 and 2017, the ratio for GHG emissions space usage exceeds 3.33 in the United States, Australia, and Canada, indicating that annual GHG emissions per capita per year of these countries were more than 3.33 times the world average, which excessively took up the limited global emission space

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is a global challenge that matters for the living environment of humans and the development as well as prosperity of all countries. Effective adaptation and mitigation of climate change requires international cooperation, as well as long-term joint action for emission reduction and control on a global scale based on the concept of fairness and sustainable development. The increase of total GHG emissions, including CO2, has resulted in global warming, glacier melting, reduction of sea ice area, and acceleration of sea level, which poses a catastrophic risk to small island countries. In China's national GHG emission inventories, CH4 is listed among the major GHG emissions, mainly from agriculture, coal mining, oil and gas production. According to the Third National Communication of the People's Republic of China on Climate Change and China's National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 2010, CO2 and CH4 represented 80.4% and 12.2% of China's total GHG emissions (with land use, land-use changes, and forestry, i.e. LULUCF) in 2010 respectively. CH4 emissions from agriculture reached 22,414 million tons, of which

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Conclusion