Pars Today

Today, we study the share of world countries in generation of greenhouse gases.

Last week, we spoke of the impact of greenhouse gases. As of the start of the industrial revolution, which marked the beginning of significant consumption of fossil fuels up to this date, mankind has played a key role in climate change and global warming as the result of generation of greenhouse gases. In general, today, whatever we produce, consume, and/or throw out, lead to generation of greenhouse gases. However, based on the latest released figures, one of the main contributors to generation of greenhouse gases, resulting from human activities, are power plants, producing 25% of greenhouses gases, emitted worldwide. The operations of many of the world’s power plants are tied to consumption of fossil fuels; such as natural gas, coal, and oil.

Meanwhile, the second largest contributor to emission of greenhouse gases is the phenomenon of deforestation, generating one fifth of the greenhouse gases worldwide. The destruction of forests lowers the capacity for absorption of carbon dioxide, and causes the release of large volumes of carbon and methane, which were previously absorbed by trees. Moreover, the road transportation sector maintains a 13% share in generation of greenhouse gases. Vehicles generate greenhouse gases three times more than trains. The production of oil and natural gas also maintains a 6% share in generation of greenhouse gases by emission of carbon dioxide and methane.

Agricultural activities also contribute to generation of greenhouse gases. Chemical fertilizers, upon the emission of nitrogen oxide, maintain a 6% contribution to emission of greenhouse gases. Modern agriculture is highly dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are made from crude oil and natural gas. The consumption of these products leads to emission of nitrogen oxide, thereby inducing the global warming.

Animal husbandry also leads to emission of methane, maintaining a 5% share in generation of the world’s greenhouse gases. The cement, aeronautics, steel, and garbage industries also contribute to generation of greenhouse gases. Now, the question is which are the main countries which contribute to generation of greenhouse gases?

The UN assessments in the year 2007 show that the US is the main contributor to emission of greenhouse gases. However, based on the latest reports, China is the main contributor to generation of greenhouse gases, worldwide, given the swift growth of the Chinese economy.

Meanwhile, according to UN experts’ report, a large volume of steel is produced in China, which is ultimately exported to US for consumption. Thus, the share of China from these production, only amounts to air pollution, while the demand for steel in fact exists in the US.

China and US contribution to generation of greenhouse gases worldwide respectively stand at 21.9% and 18.1%. According to an Associated Press report; India, Russia, and Japan respective shares of worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases stand at 6.6%, 5.1%, and 3.7%.

Upon the warnings of environmentalists about climate change and global warming, the Kyoto Protocol was signed by 160 countries on December 1997. The member states to this protocol committed themselves to stoppage of global warming. Based on this protocol, 36 industrial states were committed to lower the generation of greenhouse gases by the year 2012 AD, by 5% compared to the year 1990 AD. However, this goal was not materialized because the US was the only industrial state, which had not accepted Kyoto Protocol for a number of years. The US officials believed that reduction of emission of greenhouse gases within the framework of Kyoto Protocol would decline the US economic growth and cause the loss of US status in rivalry with other countries.

Meanwhile, the former US president, George Bush, alleged that membership in Kyoto Protocol would induce a $400m loss and redundancy of over five million people in the US.

The refusal of the US to sign this protocol gave rise to criticisms of international organizations and isolation of the US in G8 Summit negotiations on environment.

Meanwhile, even assessments in the US showed that many believed the climate change crisis is not as appalling as the international organizations state. Such a policy in the US in recent years has led to failure of the US in regard to reduction of greenhouse gases. The fact of the matter is that the generation of greenhouse gases has mounted in the US in recent years. This comes while numerous scientists consider the 5% reduction of greenhouse gases, which is the goal of Kyoto Protocol, as insufficient, and have demanded a 60% reduction of emission of greenhouse gases as the minimum acceptable condition.

Given the critical nature of environmental conditions and excessive emission of greenhouse gases, the international climate change confab was convened in Bali, Indonesia, in the presence of 10,000 representatives, to shape an international treaty, which all countries, including the US and China, who had not joined Kyoto Protocol, would also accept. One of the most important challenges of these meetings was the fair division of generation of greenhouse gases, resulting from fossil fuels, between rich and poor countries. Meanwhile, the US reactions in Bali meetings were highly surprising.  It initially announced that it doesn’t sign Kyoto Protocol. However, it later announced its agreement with this protocol. According to experts, the US agreement with this draft took place after the European Union also agreed with this proposal, and the US practically remained isolated. The European countries called for up to 40% reduction of greenhouse gases. However, the American delegation in Bali confab opposed the consideration of any compulsory global aim for reduction of greenhouse gases, which cause the global warming. Ultimately, the European countries compromised with the US.

Meanwhile, with the passage of time, and specification of the impacts of greenhouse gases and climate change on the lives of American people, Obama administration placed the policy of access to clean energy and reduction of pollutants on its agenda. The US Democrats finally concluded that the costs of erasure of impacts of environmental pollutions in the coming decades will excessively surpass the current economic interests of the US. Moreover, the pressure has piled up by the global public opinion on Washington to accept international climate agreements, such that the US can no longer refuse to do so.

Nonetheless, there is a huge gap between the US government’s agreement, and implementation of international obligations. Given that the private sector is in charge of the US industry and trade, it seems highly unlikely for the American investors to easily comply with environmental policies. Moreover, oil companies and automakers are highly influential in the US and can oppose the US government’s decisions. All of these factors have cast doubts over the ability and motivation of the US administration in countering climate change.

MR/ME