Atmospheric concentrations of CO₂e are rising due to increasing anthropogenic emissions. Unchecked, rising concentrations of CO₂e in the atmosphere will lead to catastrophic climate change.
Public electricity and heating in Annex I countries accounted for over 6.68 billion tons of CO₂e emissions annually in 2007.
Transport is responsible for approximately 20% of global anthropogenic emissions, or more than 4.63 billion tons of CO₂e annually. Source: UNFCCC, 2009.
Buildings are responsible for an estimated 1.45 billion tons of CO₂e in Annex I nations and over 20% of global anthropogenic emissions annually. Source: UNFCCC, 2009.
Annex I industry emissions are over 1.3 billion tons of CO₂e annually. Global industry emissions account for approximately 24% of annual anthropogenic emissions. Source: UNFCCC, 2009.
Emisisons from agriculture in Annex I countries totaled more than 1.43 billion in 2007 CO₂e emissions.
The EIA estimates that 2006 energy-related emissions from non-OECD countries accounted for approximately 30%, of global anthropogenic CO₂e emissions, or 15.4 billion tons. Source: EIA, 2009.
Biochar could potentially remove over 1 billion tons of CO₂e annually. In general, carbon management solutions could remove billions of tons of CO₂e from the atmosphere annually.
Emissions from GHG chemicals are currently estimated in the range of 2.5 to 3.3 billion tons of CO2e per year, or 5% to 6% of global anthropogenic emissions according to the IPCC 2007 assessment. Projected rapid growth of GHG chemicals, especially hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), makes them of particular concern.
Emissions from GHG chemicals are currently estimated in the range of 2.5 to 3.3 billion tons of CO2e per year, or 5% to 6% of global anthropogenic emissions according to the IPCC 2007 assessment. Projected rapid growth of GHG chemicals, especially hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), makes them of particular concern.
Left unchecked, a 2009 study published by the Environment Investigation Agency projects that HFCs emissions will reach between 5.5 and 8.8 billion tons of CO2e by 2050 due to increasing demand for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment in which HFCs are used.
Growth in HFC emissions occurs as they displace the ozone depleting substances (ODS) phased out under the Montreal Protocol. While HFCs do not deplete the ozone layer, they have perverse global-warming potential hundreds to thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide.
Developing countries will likely see the largest increase in future HFC emissions due to rapid adoption of refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as other commercial products that contain HFCs.
Emissions from greenhouse gas (GHG) chemicals pose a significant threat that can be managed using a combination of careful regulation and alternative technologies. Already, the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other governments have committed to adding HFC regulation to the Montreal Protocol which governs ozone depleting substances.
Emissions from greenhouse gas (GHG) chemicals pose a significant threat that can be managed using a combination of careful regulation and alternative technologies. Already, the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other governments have committed to adding HFC regulation to the Montreal Protocol which governs ozone depleting substances.
The phasing out of HFCs could deliver a cumulative reduction of 118 to 224 billion tons of CO2e emissions between 2010 and 2050, according to the Environmental Investigation Agency 2009 study. This is an annual average reduction of approximately 3 to 6 billion tons of CO2e.
Specific measures for controlling HFCs include the following:
Support for HFC phase-out and entrepreneurial activity to provide alternatives to HFC use is critical.
Market-based Approaches
The phase-out of HFCs presents an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop substitutes and new products. The refrigeration and air conditioning markets are large and growing markets globally that make this an attractive entrepreneurial opportunity. Putting standards in place now to phase out HFCs will encourage innovation in this area and create new markets and companies.
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