Download Comparison of Energy-Related CO Emissions Between China and the U.S.

Comparison of Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Between China and
the U.S.
DING Juanjuan, ZHANG Wenping
North China University of Technology, China, 100144
[email protected]
Abstract: Under the pressure of rise in global temperatures, carbon dioxide emission has become one of
the themes the world most focus on. This paper compares the energy-related CO2 emissions between
China and the U.S. by the new method of CO2 emissions per unit square land. The results showed that
the energy related CO2 emissions in China and the U.S. had comparatively large negative external
influences to the world. For the reason that the two countries should launched into wider international
technical cooperation with other countries to reduce carbon emissions and protect human environment
on the basis of improve energy efficiency and energy structure.
Keywords: CO2 emissions per unit square land, external influences, energy saving and emission
reduction
1.
Introduction
Greenhouse gases damage normal relations of the infrared radiation between the atmosphere and the
ground by absorption of infrared radiation released from the Earth and prevention heat from escaping
the earth, so that the earth occur palpable temperature rise. Climate change is not only has direct and
serious impacts on the natural environment and human survival, but also will indirectly bring more
serious problem such as water shortage, agriculture problems and even social issues. [1] The Fourth
Assessment report of IPCC indicates that global average surface temperature increased by 0.74 .
[2]
Because of the impact of temperature rise, the global sea level has risen by 10-25 cm. Therefore, the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further global warming become one of the topics the
world's most concerned about. Carbon dioxide is considered as the main cause of greenhouse effect and
human activities is the main source of current carbon dioxide emissions. The Fourth Assessment report
of IPCC points that since the industrial age, human-induced global greenhouse gas emissions increased
by 70% during the period of 1970 to 2004.
Because of the economic growth and continuously depending on traditional fossil fuels, the global
energy-related CO2 emissions increase year by
year. Figure 1 shows that energy-related CO2
ENERGY RELATED CO2 EMISSIONS
32,000
emissions had increased from 18.49 billion tons
in 1980 to 30.38 billion tons in 2008. In the past
30,000
29 years energy-related CO2 emissions had
28,000
increased by 64%, which directly led to the rise
in atmospheric CO2 concentration. IPCC points
26,000
that global atmospheric CO2 concentration had
24,000
significantly increased from pre-industrial level
22,000
of about 280ppm to 379ppm in 2005 because of
human activities. The greenhouse effects of any
20,000
country's CO2 emissions not only affect this
18,000
country, but affect the whole human living
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
environment. We should control the world's
YEAR
total emissions which mean control CO2
Figure 1 Energy-related CO2 emissions of the world
concentration from the global point of view.
CO2 ( Million Metric Tons )
℃
269
In the relationship of carbon dioxide concentrations and global temperature change, Perit J R, Jouzel J
and Raynaud D (1999) , Marland G, Boden T A and Andres R J 2007 pointed out that their had
significant correlation between the earth's surface temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide
～
concentrations. [4] [5]About the impact of energy use to CO2 emissions and environment, ZHU Chunjie,
MA Zhongyu, WANG Can and LIU Zigang (2006) argue that energy-related carbon dioxide emissions
had a absolute advantage in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The research of energy-related
greenhouse gas emissions have already been one of the hot spot. [6] YANG Yonghua, ZHU Dajian, HU
Dongjie and WANG Chen hold that extensive use of energy lead to serious deterioration to the quality of
environment.
The United States and China are the two largest countries in energy-related CO2 emissions. This paper
will have a comparative analysis to these two countries by index of by CO2 emissions per unit square
land. And then we have suggestions in accordance with the conclusions obtained.
（ ）
2.
Comparisons between China and the U.S. in Energy Efficiency and
Energy-related CO2 Emissions
2.1 Energy efficiency
China's economy is in a period of the acceleration time in the process of industrialization, so the main
driving force of economic is the energy-intensive industry. Energy consumption and growth will be in a
higher level in all the process of industrialization. Moreover, major energy-consuming industries are
generally low in energy efficiency. [3]Energy efficiency of the U.S. has the same growth trends to China.
However, the U.S. efficiency is generally higher than that of China. As can be seen from Fig.2, China’s
growth rate of energy efficiency had a rapid growth in about 2000, and then slowed down to average
level. China, which is in advancing stage of industrialization, theoretically should be higher in energy
efficiency growth rate than the U.S. which has been very well developed in industrialization. However,
the two countries have the same growth rate in energy efficiency. This means that the energy efficiency
of China needs faster improvement.
2.2 Energy-related CO2 emissions
The energy-related CO2 emissions of China have rapid growth in 1960—2008. Especially since 2002,
the energy-related CO2 emissions have a faster growth than the historical time. However, from fig.2 we
can see that the efficiency growth rate of energy consumption in this period is slow. Extensive use of
energy and low energy efficiency are the main cause of the CO2 emissions’ growth. The energy-related
CO2 emissions of the U.S. have a rapid growth prior to 1979, and then have an average growth level.
The energy-related CO2 emissions of China exceed the U.S. finally in 2006.
270
ENERGY RELATED CO2 EMISSIONS
GDP PER UNIT OF ENERGY USE
7,000,000
6
6,000,000
5
CO2 (KT)
GDP / E ($ / KG)
5,000,000
4
3
2
3,000,000
2,000,000
1
1,000,000
0
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
0
1960
2005
CHINA
1970
1980
1990
2000
YEAR
YEAR
AMERICAN
AMERICAN
Figure 2 GDP per unit of energy use
3.
4,000,000
CHINA
Figure 3 Energy related CO2 emissions
The Indicator of Measuring Countries CO2 Emissions and the Disadvantage
3.1 Total quantity of CO2 emissions
When measuring the CO2 emissions pollution among countries by total quantity of CO2 emissions, we
may ignore the different situations such as population, region and the stage of historical development.
Countries of populous and countries in rising stage of social development have more CO2 emissions
because of human activities. And usually, the countries of large area can hold up much CO2 emissions. If
controlling the CO2 emissions by the indicator of total quantity, it may not only constrain the economic
development of countries but also cause distortion of reduction policy.
3.2 Carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP
One of the most common used indicators of measuring CO2 emissions of a country is carbon dioxide
emissions per unit GDP. The mathematical expression of which is as follows,
CO2
GDP
So the carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP have a relationship to two indicators of CO2 emissions
and GDP.
However, when comparing the impacts of CO2 emissions on the environment by using carbon dioxide
emissions per unit GDP, it can only explains a country’s carbon dioxide emissions intensity but can not
explains a country’s CO2 emissions pollutions. Carbon dioxide emissions pollute the atmosphere, and if
there has more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more serious pollution to the atmosphere. Larger
carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP does not mean lager quantity of CO2 emissions and heavy
pollutions. For example, the CO2 emission of country A is M and GDP is N, the CO2 emission of
country B is M and GDP is N/2. Then the carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP of the two countries
are M/N and 2M/N. The carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP of country B is two times as that of
country A. But there is no difference between the two countries in total quantity of CO2 emission.
Carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP can reflect a country’s carbon dioxide emissions intensity and
the country’s technical level.
4.
Empirical Analyze
271
In respect of independent development, how to accurately measure the CO2 emissions pollutions should
be concerned now. Because of the differences carrying capacities of the countries to the CO2 emissions,
it is scientific to use CO2 density in the atmosphere to measure CO2 pollutions.
4.1 Introduction of CO2 emissions per unit square land
As is shown in the figure 4, given that the same height atmosphere is h; the area of a country is S, the
atmosphere volume over the country is V, the Earth radius is R. The volume over a country can be
approximately expressed as,
1 (R + h)2 − R 3 
(1)
V = S

3 
R2

Because R and h are constants, so
In
the
mathematical
(2)
expression
(2),
1  ( R + h) − R 
m= 
 is also constants.
3
R2

2
3
So the CO2 density in the atmosphere over a country can
be approximately expressed as follows:
Figure 3 the atmosphere volume
CO 2
CO 2
over a country
(3)
d =
=
V
mS
Because the atmosphere volume over a country only has relationship to the land area of the country, the
CO2 density in the atmosphere over the country can be expressed by CO2 emissions per unit square land
as follows:
d=
CO2
S
(4)
4.2 Analyze of CO2 emissions per unit square land between China and the U.S.
According to the formula (4), CO2 emissions per unit square land of the world, China and the U.S. are
calculated, the results shows as table 1.
Table1
R
（
CO2 emissions per unit square land t/km2
R
World
China
Y
China
U.S.
Y
1980
155.36
489.81
137.54
1994
1981
153.81
470.14
135.85
1995
337.73
1982
164.62
446.16
135.01
1996
1983
173.57
449.56
136.03
1997
1984
188.71
463.27
142.61
1985
204.57
465.08
145.86
1986
215.10
465.97
1987
229.51
485.54
1988
246.01
1989
249.94
）
U.S.
World
541.84
162.70
541.48
165.29
353.48
552.66
169.04
349.24
567.78
172.19
1998
330.64
568.89
171.68
1999
345.48
576.45
174.01
148.88
2000
354.59
595.68
177.62
153.05
2001
363.20
583.96
178.82
506.81
158.12
2002
385.40
590.75
184.18
512.37
160.41
2003
453.22
590.13
193.21
272
312.29
1990
251.40
504.68
161.26
2004
530.88
601.52
205.47
1991
263.97
505.65
160.43
2005
585.69
606.01
211.80
1992
275.40
504.16
159.76
2006
635.44
596.77
216.04
1993
294.02
534.59
161.54
Data sources: World Bank.
Y: year.
: CO2 emissions per unit square land. R: region.
CO2 / S ( t / square kilometer)
Theoretically, if the CO2 density of a country or region is higher than that of the world average level, the
CO2 emissions of this country or region would generate negative external influences to the other part of
the world. CO2 density and CO2 emissions per unit square land is consistent with each other in
comparing the influence of countries’ CO2
CO2 EMISSIONS PER SQUARE KILOMETER
emissions to the world. Figure 5 shows the CO2
700
emissions per unit square land of China, the U.S.
and the world in 1980 to 2006.
600
We can know from figure 5 that from 1980 to
2006 the growth trends and the quantity of
500
energy-related CO2 emissions per unit square
400
land of China and the U.S. are higher than the
world average level. The two countries generate
300
negative external influences to the other part of
the world from the point of view of
200
energy-related CO2 emissions. Considered from
100
the historical average level, the negative
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
external influences of the U.S. is higher than
YEAR
that of China. However, from the view of
AMERICAN
CHINA
WORLD
growth trends, China generates increasing
negative external influence to the world.
Figure 5 Energy-related CO2 emissions
Energy-related CO2 emissions per unit square land of
per unit square land
China had exceeded the U.S. since 2006.
We should pay attention to that although the growth trend of the world energy-related CO2 emissions per
unit square land is much slower it has a continuous growth since 1980. All countries face the same
problems which affect the survival environment of the whole human.
Comparing the Figure 3 and Figure 5, we can find that the growth trends and the shape of energy-related
CO2 emissions per unit square land of China and the U.S. are identical. So the total quantity of CO2
emissions may measure the CO2 emissions pollution of a country in appearance. Actually Figure 3 can
not show the relationship of external influences of a country even though add the line graph of the total
CO2 emissions of the world. This is because different countries face different emission space and large
total emissions do not mean having negative external influences to other counties.
，
5.
Conclusion
Comparing the energy-related CO2 emissions of China and the U.S. and then measuring which by CO2
emissions per unit square land, this paper makes the following recommendations in combining with the
current international debate and consensus on energy saving and emission reduction.
First of all, as the world's two largest countries of carbon dioxide emissions, China and the U.S. bring
about comparatively large negative external influences in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. For
the reason that the two countries should reduce total CO2 emissions and CO2 emissions per unit square
land to eliminate negative external influences by assuming obligations of global emission reduction and
improving energy efficiency and energy structure.
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Secondly, countries should eliminate disputes and develop international cooperation. In respect for
self-development, countries should objectively evaluate the CO2 emissions pollutions, launch technical
cooperation in energy saving and emissions reduction to promote heavy carbon polluting countries as
quickly as possible to eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions impacts to human.
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