Source #9

TITLE: Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning, 1751-2006 

SUMMARY: This graph plots the accelerating levels of carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning between 1751 and 2006. The USA is one of the top contributors to these escalated levels. American and China alone account for over a third of these increased carbon levels. This article argues that for more than 100 years, the USA has accounted for approximately 19.8% of global carbon emission levels. China also has an F grade on the global carbon emissions report card: the article claims that China is opening two new coal plants a week, and at the time of the report’s publication the country was expected become the largest carbon emitter before 2009, surpassing even the USA. This report also estimates that each American citizen accounts for 5.5 tons of carbon being released into the atmosphere on an annual basis. Top put USA offenses against the environment into perspective, the article reads, “The United Nations calculates that an average air-conditioner in Florida is responsible for more CO2 every year than a person in Cambodia is in a lifetime.” Gross. 

TOPIC: Fossil Fuels & Fossil Fuel Burning 

CATEGORY: Still Image

WHAT IS IT? A graph showing global carbon emission levels between the years 1751 and 2006. 

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: Earth Policy Institute, April 9, 2008 

AUTHOR: Frances C. Moore 

LOCATION:  http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/CO2/2008_Carbon%20Emissions%201751-2006%20SMALL.GIF (GRAPH IMAGE), http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/CO2/2008.htm (ARTICLE) 

ACCESSED: March 9, 2009 

SUPPORT: 
* Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), international panel that studies the effects of climate change due to human activity
*  United Nations, international organization focusing on global cooperation on economic, social, legal, and environmental issues
* United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty that focuses on addressing and reducing global warming caused by human activity  

AUDIENCE & AGENDA: The Earth Policy Institute is based in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1991 by the global environmental activist, Lester Brown. Brown is known for his research on climate change, food shortage, and his writing ventures. He is the author and/or co-author of over 50 books on environmental issues. The agenda of the Earth Policy Institute is based on raising public awareness on global issues, such as climate change, overpopulation, global warming, and ecosystem damage due to human activity. EPI uses the term “eco-economy” to describe its ideal global community. In order to get the public’s attention, EPI claims it uses a distribution network. This network is a combination of published books, the internet, and various communications media (academic and informational lectures held in consistently in locations across the USA.) Some of the books EPI has published to promote its mission of global environmental awareness are Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth, and Outgrowing the Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures. The EPI is a non-profit organization dedicated to researching these global issues. The group’s only source of funding is from private donations from individuals and foundations, which are tax deductible. Earth Policy does not accept financial contributions from government institutions or corporations.  

USEFULNESS: This article is crucial to my research because it places my social issue, American green job development, on a global platform. The relationship among global warming, climate change, and American green job development are all related. This article does a great job summarizing the effects of rising carbon emission levels as a result of human activity. The USA is one of the world’s most offensive fossil fuel consumers, in addition to China. The negative impacts of our fossil fuel consumption affect the global environment. These affects are summarized in the research and graphs in this article. As a result of rising global temperatures, climate change is happening on a dramatic scale. This is harmful to delicate marine ecosystems. Also, scientists say rising temperatures also contribute to heavier rainfalls and nastier hurricanes. After reading this entry, it was obvious to me that we must reduce our carbon emissions- as soon as possible. This is where green collar jobs come into play. We need to help our economy and stop destroying the environment by finding sustainable ways to live and limit consumption. 

WORKS CITED: 
* Andres, R.J., Boden, T.A., Marland, G. “Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning Per Person for Top Ten Countries and World, 2006.” Earth Policy Institute, 2007.

http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/CO2/2008_data.htm#table4

Accessed March 9, 2009 
* Brown, Lester R. Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization.” W.W. Norton, 3rd Edition. January 16, 2008. 

http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/PB3/index.htm

Accessed March 9, 2009
* Houghton, R.A. “Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Land Use Change and Forestry in Top Ten Countries, 2000.” Report to the World Resources Institute from the Woods Hole Research Center. 2003.

http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/CO2/2008_data.htm#table6

Accessed March 9, 2009

Advertisement