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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
08:18
Design and Use of a Full Flow Sampling System (FFS) for the Quantification of Methane Emissions
Published on: June 12, 2016
Global and regional drivers of accelerating CO2 emissions
Michael R Raupach1, Gregg Marland, Philippe Ciais
1Global Carbon Project, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Marine and Atmospheric Research, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. michael.raupach@csiro.au
Summary
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are accelerating due to increased energy intensity and population growth. Developing economies, particularly China, are driving this trend, raising global equity concerns.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Climate Change Research
- Global Emissions Analysis
Background:
- Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry have accelerated significantly since 2000.
- The observed growth rate exceeds the highest emissions scenarios projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the drivers of accelerated global CO2 emissions growth since 2000.
- To examine regional contributions to emissions growth and historical cumulative emissions.
- To assess the implications for global equity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of global CO2 emissions data, focusing on trends from 1990-2004.
- Examination of energy intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon intensity of energy.
- Comparison of emissions growth rates with IPCC scenarios and assessment of regional contributions.
Main Results:
- Global emissions growth rate increased from 1.1% (1990-1999) to over 3% (2000-2004).
- Growth driven by reversal of declining energy/GDP and emissions/energy trends, alongside population and per-capita GDP increases.
- Rapidly developing economies, especially China, show the strongest emissions growth; developing nations contributed 73% of growth in 2004.
Conclusions:
- No region is effectively decarbonizing its energy supply, indicating a lack of global mitigation efforts.
- Disparities in historical and current emissions contributions between developed and developing nations have significant global equity implications.
- Urgent and equitable global strategies are needed to address accelerating CO2 emissions.
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