CO2 emissions

Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels - the principal driver of climate change - have accelerated globally at a far greater rate than expected over recent years, according to a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A new, high resolution, interactive map of United States carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels has found that the emissions aren't all where we thought.

The maps and system, called Vulcan, show CO2 emissions at more than 100 times more detail than was available before. Until now, data on carbon dioxide emissions were reported, in the best cases, monthly at the level of an entire state grid.

The Vulcan model examines CO2 emissions at local levels on an hourly basis. Purdue researchers say the maps are also more accurate than previous data because they are based on greenhouse gas emissions instead of estimates based on population in areas of the United States.

An overwhelming majority in the European Parliament has voted in favour of limiting CO2 emissions caused by air travel from 2012. As of this date, all airlines in Europe will have to comply with the European emission trade system, in which they will have to purchase the right to emit more CO2 than permitted.

The airline sector, which is already struggling with increased fuel prices, is furious at the decision. International air travel organisation IATA says the system will cost airlines three-and-a-half billion euros in the first year alone. The decision still has to be ratified by individual EU governments.

Dutch Airline KLM has announced it will be raising the fuel surcharge on ticket prices on Thursday as a result of the high kerosene prices. The surcharge for European flights will increase by 4 euros; for the longest intercontinental flights it will increase by 14 euros. This will bring the highest fuel surcharge to 147 euros.

Italian Sports car manufacturer Ferrari intends to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its vehicles by nearly half, and says it's working on developing hybrid vehicles.

President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo says the company wants to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40 per cent between now and 2012. However, he insists that any future hybrid car will still be fundamentally a Ferrari. He says the company is working on developing an alternative energy powered car using the kinetic energy recycling system it's currently using in formula one cars.

The technology is designed to draw extra power from the brakes, and he expects it to hit the market around 2015.

With an 8 per cent national increase, China's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions accounted for two thirds of last year's global carbon dioxide increase of 3.1 per cent, according to a preliminary estimate by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

China's CO2 emissions are now estimated to be about 14 per cent higher than those from the United States. With this, China tops the list of CO2 emitting countries, having about a quarter share in global CO2 emissions (24 per cent). It is followed by the US (21 per cent, the EU-15 (12 per cent), India (8 per cent) and the Russian Federation (6 per cent).

Together, they comprise 71 per cent of the total of global CO2 emissions. These figures are estimated by the Dutch agen, using recently published BP (British Petroleum) energy data and cement production data for 2007.

Emissions expressed per person show a largely different ranking. The top five CO2 emissions in metric tons per person are: US (19.4), Russia (11.8), EU-15 (8.6), China (5.1 ) and India (1.8).