In Short Organizations such as the EPA, the EIA and the IEA publish statistics on energy consumption and GHG emissions. A Few Details Category of GHG emitter World GHG emissions “Dirty” electric power plants (EPA: electricity category includes electricity for heating) 34% Industrial processes (EPA: industry + oil industry from extraction to distribution) 24% Fuels for transports (EPA: same classification) 15% Residential and commercial (EPA: same classification) 6% Agriculture (EPA: category combines agriculture and “land use”, i.e., forests replaced by agriculture) 22% TOTAL OF HUMAN ACTIVITY 100% CO2 removed by ecosystems (i.e., forest and other plants) isn’t included, although it mitigates numbers above. This number could go higher by reversing logging and desertification. (EPA estimates its share at 5% (i.e., a fifth of agriculture’s 24%)) -5% These figures are based on data from the EPA’s 2019 report and are expected to remain relatively consistent in the coming years. However, it’s important to note that different institutions may categorize sources differently. It is crucial to be mindful of misinformation: Electricity is frequently misconstrued as synonymous with energy, but it represents only a portion of our total energy consumption. As a result, a 4% reduction in emissions from electricity generation may lead to only a modest 1% decrease in overall greenhouse gas emissions. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?
In Short Agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through various processes involved in food production. A Few Details Key sources of GHG emissions in agriculture include: – The combustion of fossil fuels in tractors and machinery. – The release of methane from the decomposition of organic waste and byproducts. (Approximately two-thirds of methane emissions originate from agriculture, while the remaining one-third is attributed to the oil and coal industries and is classified under the industrial sector.) – The application of fertilizers and tilling practices, which are associated with GHG emissions due to microbial activity. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?
In Short Organizations such as the EPA, the EIA and the IEA publish statistics on energy consumption and GHG emissions. A Few Details Category of GHG emitter US GHG emissions “Dirty” electric power plants (EPA: same classification) 25% Industrial processes (EPA: same classification) 23% Fuels for transports (EPA: same classification) 28% Residential and commercial buildings (EPA: same classification) 13% Agriculture (EPA: same classification) 10% TOTAL OF HUMAN ACTIVITY 100% CO2 removed by ecosystems (i.e., forest and other plants) isn’t included. It does mitigate numbers above, but it shouldn’t deviate countries benefiting from large ecosystems (e.g., Amazon rainforest) to go for a carbon-free economy. (EPA estimates the US “net sink” at 11%) -11% These figures are based on data from the EPA’s 2019 report and are expected to remain relatively consistent in the coming years. However, it’s important to note that different institutions may categorize sources differently. It is crucial to be mindful of misinformation: Electricity is frequently misconstrued as synonymous with energy, but it represents only a portion of our total energy consumption. As a result, a 4% reduction in emissions from electricity generation may lead to only a modest 1% decrease in overall greenhouse gas emissions. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?
In Short Residential and commercial buildings utilize cooking stoves and heating furnaces powered by natural gas or heating oil. Additionally, they generate organic waste that decomposes into methane. A Few Details Households and offices consume fossil fuels for heating, supplied either through pipelines or delivered by truck to fill on-site tanks. These buildings also generate waste processed through sewage or garbage collection, which decomposes into methane. While this methane can potentially be captured and used as fuel, it is not always utilized. According to the EPA, this category excludes electricity generated by power plants but includes “distributed generation” from rooftop solar panels, as data on the generation, consumption, and storage of this energy remains private. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?
In Short Industries utilize diesel fuel, gasoline, natural gas, or coal to power furnaces and machinery. A Few Details Industries prefer fossil fuels because they are cost-effective, easily stored for continuous operations, and suitable for mobile machinery that cannot be connected to the electrical grid. Notably, oil and coal companies themselves consume hydrocarbons throughout various stages of their operations, from excavating coal mines and drilling oil wells to processing coal, refining petroleum, leaking methane gas, and distributing coal or gas. Clarifications on EPA’s categories referenced in this blog: – Fuel used for transporting fossil fuels by truck or train falls under this category rather than the transportation category. – The electricity consumed by industries, sourced from power plants, is classified under the “power plant” category rather than the “industry” category. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?
In Short Conventional “dirty” power plants burn coal or natural gas to drives turbines that generate electricity. A Few Details Conventional power plants offer several advantages: – Coal and natural gas are cost-effective energy sources. – Their construction and infrastructure has already been fully amortized. – These plants can easily modulate their power output, particularly by adjusting the natural gas intake for gas turbines. – Coal and natural gas can be easily stored, allowing power plants to reliably meet continuous demand, including sudden surges in electricity consumption. Alternative “clean” power plants must replicate these characteristics in order to produce electricity without generating GHG emissions. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?
In Short Transportation via cars, trucks, trains, planes, and boats relies on the combustion of gasoline, diesel fuel, or kerosene. A Few Details Vehicles used in road, rail, air, and sea transport require cost-effective, high-energy-density fuels to fill lightweight tanks capable of powering both short and long-distance travel. Refueling stations can efficiently store fossil fuels, offering cost-effective refueling options for vehicles with low fuel levels. More Info Full explanation: How the Economic System Impedes the Fight Against Global Warming. Original idea: Is It Possible to Completely Eliminate Taxes on the Green Economy?