Emissions per capita

Table 2 Estimated percentage of greenhouse gas emissions per capita (unit tons of CO2 equivalent/capita)...

In Vietnam, total greenhouse gas emissions in 2000 were 150.9 million tons C02 equivalent thereafter, average per capita was 1.5 million tons. Vietnam s level of CO2 emissions per capita was rather low compared to world average (Table 2). 

In the 1980 and 1990 of the last century, the average C02 emissions per capita in Vietnam were 1/10 of the world average, but nowadays is 1/3, while this level in the world is almost stable (Figs. 5 and 6). With increased consumption of fossil fuel at present, it was predicted that in a short time, the level of C02 emissions per capita in Vietnam will exceed the world average (Figs. 7 and 8). 

Figure 2.3. Distribution of C02 emissions per capita and GDP (IPCC, 2007c).

Because of the enormous differences in economic development, population density, and size of different provinces in China, total emission, emission density, emission intensity, and emission per capita showed geographical variations. In general, the southeastern provinces were characterized by higher emission density, while those in western and northern China featured higher emission intensity and population-normalized emission. The annual PAH emissions at the provincial level ranged from... 

Even if energy use is high in Sweden, CO2 emissions per capita are low, thanks to a large share of hydro, nuclear and bio-fuels. CO2 emissions in 1997 were 6.6 t/capita in Sweden. This can be compared to about 8.5 t/capita in EU15 and about 12 t/capita in the OECD (STEM 1999). Since the early 1970s CO2 emissions have been reduced by almost 50%, mainly due to the conversion from oil to electricity and bio-fuels used for heating (Regeringens Proposition 2003). 

Figure 1. Annual regional carbon dioxide emissions per capita (ESCAP, 1995).

The United States is by far the most energy-intensive user. Americans consume more than twice as much energy per capita as in Europe or Japan, and are the largest emitter of CO,. Of the 6 billion metric tons of carbon emissions worldwide in 1996, the United States emitted 1.466 billion metric tons, followed by China at 805 million, Russia at 401 million, and Japan at 291 million. Although many countries consume more energy than China, China consumes... 

Population growth rates are another point of dissension between developed and developing countries. Total emission is the per capita... 

There are two major concerns about the future of the energy sector security of energy supply and climate change (due to greenhouse-gas emissions, mainly CO2).1 Figure 2.1 demonstrates why. Global primary energy use per capita has increased... 

Differences in terms of per-capita income, per-capita emissions and energy intensity among countries remain significant (see Fig. 2.3). In 2004, UNFCCC Annex I countries held a 20% share in world population, produced 57% of world gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity (GDPppp), and accounted for 46% of global GHG emissions. 

Fig. 2. World per capita carbon dioxide emissions (expressed as carbon equivalent) from the consumption and flaring of fossil fuels for the year 2001. Thick vertical line represents global average FSU = Former Soviet Union. Data from EIA (2003).

There is a trend that beyond a certain wealth, the environmental impact emission per unit capita is reduced. Jackson shows that on average above... 

Country Commercial energy (per capita consumption in oil equivalent) Oil (barrels per day per thousand people ) Electric power (kWper hour per capita) Per capita emissions of carbon dioxide (t)... 

Today, the annual amount of carbon dumped globally into the atmosphere corresponds, on average, to 1 ton per person on the planet. In the United States and China, carbon-based energy, in particular coal, is especially dominant (Figure 15.3) [5]. The average American per capita emission is 5 ton of carbon annually. In Sweden (with a similar standard of living as... 

On a per capita basis, the current (2003) annual dioxin/furan release in Hong Kong was generally similar to those in Asian regions, Canada, the US and Australia, and was the 2nd lowest in air emission. 

Figure 1.11, prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, describes the global carbon cycle. It provides data that was collected in 2001. Since that date, the yearly anthropogenic carbon emissions (measured in carbon equivalent terms) increased from 6.3 to about 9 billion metric tons (over 1 ton per capita in the world). In November 2007, the National Academy of Science reported actual emissions for 2006 as 8.4 billion tons. Carbon equivalent means that the emission of 3.7 tons of COz is counted as the emission of 1 ton of carbon, so the 8.4 billion tons per year of carbon that enters the atmosphere owing to fossil fuel combustion corresponds to 33 billion tons per year of C02 because of the molecular weight ratio of COz to carbon (44/12). 

World C02 emissions are expected to increase by 1.9% annually from 2001 to 2025. Much of the increase in these emissions is expected to occur in the developing world, where emerging economies such as China and India fuel their economic development mostly with fossil energy. China s C02 emissions in 2007 exceeded those of the United States, and emissions of the developing countries are expected to surpass those of the industrialized countries about the year 2018. In terms of per capita carbon dioxide emissions, the United States is still the "leader" with a 21 tons/per capita/per year emission (Russia 11.8, EU 8.6, China 5.1, India 1.8), and these emissions continued to increase in all parts of the world except the EU, where it has been reduced by 2%. 

Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have been taxing carbon emissions since the 1990s. The results have varied with the tax collection methods. In Finland, Norway, and Sweden the carbon taxes had little impact on emissions, as industry just included them in its cost of operation while the governments treated these taxes as general revenue. In Denmark, the collected carbon taxes were invested in subsidizing the development of alternative energy technologies, and as a consequence the per capita emission by 2005 dropped below the 1990 level. 

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