Global Climate Change

Global and Domestic Carbon Dioxide Emissions & their Effect on Climate Change

Fossil Fuels
The consumption of fossil fuels has grown steadily from the 1850's. The United States contributes the greatest amount of the global CO2 at 22% [8] in a manor reflecting in sector breakdown to worldwide emissions.

The division of fossil fuel consumption and total carbon emissions, as shown in Table 2 [4], demonstrates the areas that can reduce CO2 emissions. The actual contribution of CO2 to the atmosphere per unit energy output is a function of the carbon to hydrogen ratio and is shown in Table 3 [3]. Coal has nearly double the CO2 output of natural gas.

Typical data on the extractable reserves of both natural gas and oil place the phase out date between 30 to 40 years, but for coal an estimated 200+ years. From a fossil fuel availability standpoint coal could last for a long time.