Global climate change and the mitigation challenge.
Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), have led to increasing atmospheric concentrations, very likely the primary cause of the 0.8 degrees C warming the Earth has experienced since the Industrial Revolution. With industrial activity and population expected to increase for the rest of the century, large increases in greenhouse gas emissions are projected, with substantial global additional warming predicted. This paper examines forces driving CO2 emissions, a concise sector-by-sector summary of mitigation options, and research and development (R&D) priorities. To constrain warming to below approximately 2.5 degrees C in 2100, the recent annual 3% CO2 emission growth rate needs to transform rapidly to an annual decrease rate of from 1 to 3% for decades. Furthermore, the current generation of energy generation and end-use technologies are capable of achieving less than half of the emission reduction needed for such a major mitigation program. New technologies will have to be developed and deployed at a rapid rate, especially for the key power generation and transportation sectors. Current energy technology research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) programs fall far short of what is required.
Princiotta
Frank
F
Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA. Princiotta.frank@epa.gov
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001272:Atmosphere; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002980:Climate; D004738:Engineering; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D007221:Industry; D012106:Research; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D002245:Carbon Dioxide