Anthropogenic CO2 emissions: Sources and trends

Abstract

CO2 and other greenhouse gases are emitted to the atmosphere as a result of both natural processes (e.g., volcanoes, natural vents, and respiration) and human activities. Although the carbon fl uxes caused by human activities constitute only a small fraction of the gross natural carbon fl uxes between land, the ocean, and the atmosphere, they are responsible for the appreciable changes in the global carbon balance compared to the preindustrial period. Fossil fuels are the main contributors to overall anthropogenic CO2 emissions with most of them coming from energyrelated sources. The classification of major CO2 sources by fuel type, industrial sector, CO2 content, and the scale of emissions, as well as current and future trends in CO2 emission sources is analyzed in this chapter. Geographically, the significant redistribution of CO2 emission sources throughout the world between now and 2030 could be expected with developing countries getting most of the gain, and the share of the developed countries being continuously reduced.