Anthropogenic CO2 and Fossil Fuel Emissions
• Know the current (as of 2016) global emission of CO 2 to the atmosphere from human
activities
→ in 2016 the anthropogenic CO2 emissions were 36.2 GtCO2 which was
50% higher than 20 years ago
- describe how this rate has changed over the past 60 years
- In 1960 the anthropogenic Co2 emissions were 9.4 GtCo2
- In 1990 the rise was only about 1% increase/year, now it’s about 3%
increase
- In 2017 it will be 59% over 1990
- list which economies today are responsible for most anthropogenic emission of
CO2
- China emits the most gigatons(28) , then there’s the USA (14.5) producing
half the amount, than the EU and lastly India
- compare economies’ total anthropogenic CO2 emission with
- emissions per capita: the USA is the leading country in per capita
emissions, they are emitting above 16 tCO2, while china is at 7, and the
rest of the four big countries are below
- emissions per economic output
- Each country is being more energy efficient, so even though economies
have high emission to money when labor and energy supplies are
abundant, there is a general decrease in every country, but China is still
the largest economy, than US
- contrast yearly versus cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions
- describe which regions and economies are responsible for most anthropogenic CO 2
emission since the Industrial Revolution
- the US and EU are responsible for most cumulative emissions with China
growing.
• Know the major fossil fuel and non-fossil fuel sources of anthropogenic CO 2
This study source was downloaded by 100000889810302 from CourseHero.com on 10-17-2025 03:05:48 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/51163410/geography-exam-2-study-guide/
, - The fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. These produce CO2 when burning.
- Cement manufacturing also producing CO2
o know which single source today is the largest contributor to atmospheric CO 2
- Burning coal with 14.5 GtCo2
o know which single source is cumulative the largest contributor to atmospheric CO 2
- Cumulative, overtime, land use change is responsible for the atmospheric CO2 in
our economy
o know which single source was historically the largest contributor to atmospheric CO 2
- Over history, land use change was the largest contributor to atmospheric CO2
until 1950, the industrial revolution happened which burned much coal.
• Explain our modern anthropogenic CO2 budget, with the sources adding CO2 and the
sinks removing CO2 to add up to our present concentration of 405 ppm
- Additions of Co2 are: coal, oil, gas, cement
- Removals of Co2 are: uptake by land (terrestrial biosphere), and uptake by the
ocean
- So, coal, oil, gas, cement all make up additions to CO2 levels, but they are
absorbed by the land and the ocean (the land absorbs more than the ocean due
to photosynthesis)
Future Greenhouse Gas emissions scenarios
• define Representative Concentration Pathway [RCP], and know the four RCPs
RCP: representative concentration pathways
- 8.5: Business as usual, keep doing what we are doing, CO2 continues to
increase and will rise at 1-2% per year until fossil fuels run out
- 6.0: Co2 will peak globally in 2080 and emissions would decline after that
but still stay 2x higher than we are right now
- 4.5: the co2 global peak will be in 2040, emissions will decline after 2050
but will never go back to preindustrial rates
- 2.6: the global peak of Co2 would be now, and would decline back to
preindustrial rates by 2050
o contrast the four RCPs in timing and peak of GHG emissions and atmospheric CO 2
- 2.6: global peak is NOW! And Co2 emissions will start to decline now.
- 4.5: global peak in Co2 emissions will occur around 2040, and decline around
This study source was downloaded by 100000889810302 from CourseHero.com on 10-17-2025 03:05:48 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/51163410/geography-exam-2-study-guide/
• Know the current (as of 2016) global emission of CO 2 to the atmosphere from human
activities
→ in 2016 the anthropogenic CO2 emissions were 36.2 GtCO2 which was
50% higher than 20 years ago
- describe how this rate has changed over the past 60 years
- In 1960 the anthropogenic Co2 emissions were 9.4 GtCo2
- In 1990 the rise was only about 1% increase/year, now it’s about 3%
increase
- In 2017 it will be 59% over 1990
- list which economies today are responsible for most anthropogenic emission of
CO2
- China emits the most gigatons(28) , then there’s the USA (14.5) producing
half the amount, than the EU and lastly India
- compare economies’ total anthropogenic CO2 emission with
- emissions per capita: the USA is the leading country in per capita
emissions, they are emitting above 16 tCO2, while china is at 7, and the
rest of the four big countries are below
- emissions per economic output
- Each country is being more energy efficient, so even though economies
have high emission to money when labor and energy supplies are
abundant, there is a general decrease in every country, but China is still
the largest economy, than US
- contrast yearly versus cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions
- describe which regions and economies are responsible for most anthropogenic CO 2
emission since the Industrial Revolution
- the US and EU are responsible for most cumulative emissions with China
growing.
• Know the major fossil fuel and non-fossil fuel sources of anthropogenic CO 2
This study source was downloaded by 100000889810302 from CourseHero.com on 10-17-2025 03:05:48 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/51163410/geography-exam-2-study-guide/
, - The fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. These produce CO2 when burning.
- Cement manufacturing also producing CO2
o know which single source today is the largest contributor to atmospheric CO 2
- Burning coal with 14.5 GtCo2
o know which single source is cumulative the largest contributor to atmospheric CO 2
- Cumulative, overtime, land use change is responsible for the atmospheric CO2 in
our economy
o know which single source was historically the largest contributor to atmospheric CO 2
- Over history, land use change was the largest contributor to atmospheric CO2
until 1950, the industrial revolution happened which burned much coal.
• Explain our modern anthropogenic CO2 budget, with the sources adding CO2 and the
sinks removing CO2 to add up to our present concentration of 405 ppm
- Additions of Co2 are: coal, oil, gas, cement
- Removals of Co2 are: uptake by land (terrestrial biosphere), and uptake by the
ocean
- So, coal, oil, gas, cement all make up additions to CO2 levels, but they are
absorbed by the land and the ocean (the land absorbs more than the ocean due
to photosynthesis)
Future Greenhouse Gas emissions scenarios
• define Representative Concentration Pathway [RCP], and know the four RCPs
RCP: representative concentration pathways
- 8.5: Business as usual, keep doing what we are doing, CO2 continues to
increase and will rise at 1-2% per year until fossil fuels run out
- 6.0: Co2 will peak globally in 2080 and emissions would decline after that
but still stay 2x higher than we are right now
- 4.5: the co2 global peak will be in 2040, emissions will decline after 2050
but will never go back to preindustrial rates
- 2.6: the global peak of Co2 would be now, and would decline back to
preindustrial rates by 2050
o contrast the four RCPs in timing and peak of GHG emissions and atmospheric CO 2
- 2.6: global peak is NOW! And Co2 emissions will start to decline now.
- 4.5: global peak in Co2 emissions will occur around 2040, and decline around
This study source was downloaded by 100000889810302 from CourseHero.com on 10-17-2025 03:05:48 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/51163410/geography-exam-2-study-guide/
