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Global sulfur emissions from 1850 to 2000.
1Department of Economics, Sage 3208, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110, 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180-3590, USA. sternd@rpi.edu
Chemosphere
|December 2, 2004
Summary
This study presents continuous sulfur emissions data from 1850-2000, revealing a global peak in 1989 and a rapid decline thereafter. The 1990s saw significant technological progress in reducing sulfur pollution worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Climate Change Research
- Economic History
Background:
- Existing sulfur emissions databases lack comprehensive data for the 1990s.
- There is a need for continuous, country-specific time-series data on sulfur emissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop continuous time-series of sulfur emissions by country for 1850-2000.
- To provide the first global estimates for 1996-2000 based on observed data.
- To analyze trends and shifts in sulfur emissions, particularly during the 1990s.
Main Methods:
- Compilation and integration of existing published sulfur emissions data.
- Interpolation and extrapolation using econometric emissions frontier and environmental Kuznets curve models for missing data.
- Analysis of global and regional emission movements and comparison with other studies.
Main Results:
- Global sulfur emissions peaked in 1989 and declined rapidly.
- Emissions shifted towards East and South Asia, with the region peaking in 1996.
- The study's estimates show a faster decline in the 1990s compared to other global studies.
Conclusions:
- Rapid technological progress in sulfur pollution reduction is diffusing globally.
- The developed dataset offers a more accurate and complete picture of sulfur emissions trends.
- The findings highlight a significant global effort towards reducing sulfur-based pollution.