The preliminary study of urbanization, fossil fuels consumptions and CO2 emission in Karachi

Abstract

According to population, Karachi ranks as largest city of Pakistan and the ninth largest in the world. It is the most urbanized and largest economic centre of Pakistan. During the last three decades, it has faced mass urbanization, huge population growth, many fold increase in vehicles and industrial development. As a result, the demand of more energy in form of fossil fuels has increased for domestic, industrial and transportation purposes. In this research, the maximum available data of Karachi urbanization, population and vehicles growth, industrialization, energy consumption and CO2 emissions are computed using statistical regression method. Time periods considered for this work are according to the availability of data. The results showed that during 1947 to 2008, both urban population and urban area increased to 1500%. During 1990 to 2008, the percentage growth in vehicles versus population is almost twice than before. During 1980 to 2007 the consumption of oil and petrol, natural gas and coal increased to 219, 365 and 287%, respectively. The emission of CO2 jumped from 39 million metric tons in 1980 to 151 million metric tons in 2007. The share of vehicles in emission of CO2 in atmosphere on Karachi through combustion of fossil fuels is more than the industries. © 2010 Academic Journals.