The total amount of carbon emitted from all sources on Earth is referred to as global carbon emissions. Carbon emissions from natural sources and carbon emissions from man-made sources are frequently separated. In order to combat global climate change, also known as global warming, it is necessary to measure global carbon emissions. Global carbon emissions are frequently calculated using estimated emissions by country or region.
Natural processes are the primary source of global carbon emissions. Humans have very limited ability to influence or change these sources, which are considered natural balances. Despite the fact that man-made global carbon emissions are thought to be a minor part of the overall balance, it is theorized that their contributions tip the balance just enough to cause a gradual warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The burning of fossil fuels in vehicles and coal-fired power plants accounts for the majority of human-caused global carbon emissions. According to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, carbon emissions from solids, primarily coal, gasoline, and diesel, contribute nearly equal amounts to the atmosphere. The numbers may be more skewed toward coal than other sources in developing countries, such as China, which has more coal-fired power plants than any other country.
Because they all go into the same atmosphere, all carbon emissions must be considered global carbon emissions. As a result, strategies have emphasized a global solution. The Kyoto Protocol, for example, tends to put more pressure on developed countries than developing countries, but it still represents a global approach. Despite this, one of the most common criticisms of the treaty is that it does not go far enough in addressing global carbon emissions due to the exemption it provides for developing countries.
Nuclear power and renewable energy sources are two solutions to global carbon emissions that focus specifically on electrical generation. While these sources do not produce carbon emissions, they do have disadvantages of their own. For example, without a long-term solution for nuclear power plants, radioactive waste remains a problem. Nonetheless, many environmentalists see them as at least potential replacements, with the majority preferring renewable energy to nuclear energy.
In the case of automobiles, the solution focuses on renewable energy and electric technologies, both of which can significantly reduce or eliminate the carbon emissions associated with fossil fuels. Hybrid vehicles can help reduce emissions, especially for cars that spend a lot of time in town. Fuel cell vehicles, which use hydrogen as their primary fuel source and emit only water as a byproduct, are currently being developed.