Who Ought To Bear The Burden Of Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

The US, EU, and China are the largest historical emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), with fossil fuel companies responsible for 70% of these emissions. The climate narrative has been manipulated to avoid accountability, with China responsible for nearly 14% of all GHGs released from fossil fuels. To achieve net zero emissions, the world needs to urgently reduce emissions across all sectors.

The Paris Agreement aims to develop technology for improving resilience to climate change and reducing GHG emissions. However, the extent, timing, and methods adopted may vary based on the country’s role in reducing emissions. Only 100 investor and state-owned fossil fuel companies are responsible for around 70% of the world’s historical GHG emissions. Governments must now adopt regulations and policies compelling large corporate actors to reduce emissions.

Wealthy countries are disproportionately responsible for the climate crisis, having the double responsibility to cut emissions at home and to help poorer countries. Corporations must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their activities, subsidiaries, products and services, and suppliers. Companies can influence their suppliers to reduce carbon emissions by reducing their own activities and subsidiaries, using more energy-efficient products and services, and reducing travel.

To actively reduce GHG emissions, individuals can reduce or avoid the need to travel, use more energy-efficient transportation, and adopt a reduction plan that is tailored to their organization or company. This includes considering different GHG emission scopes and having medium and long-term goals.

Who should be accountable for climate change?

As global efforts to tackle the climate crisis intensify, major fossil fuel companies must either support or disengage from the process. These companies, which acknowledged the dangers of their products to the global climate at least 50 years ago, have been actively working against climate action through misinformation, false debates, and lobbying. Their actions have led to the deception of the public and policy makers, and they should face consequences for their actions. By holding them accountable, we can reduce their influence and increase the likelihood of climate action.

How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home, consider a home energy audit, use renewable energy sources like solar panels, buy green tags, purchase carbon offsets, adjust your thermostat, install solar lights, and use energy-saving light bulbs. Installing programmable thermostats, sealing and insulating heating and cooling ducts, replacing single-paned windows with dual-paned ones, and installing insulated doors can all reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 5%.

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro energy are gaining worldwide support, with Denmark’s wind energy providing 10% of its total energy needs. In most states, customers can purchase green power (50 to 100% renewable energy) and find a complete list of options on the US Department of Energy’s Buying Clean Electricity web page.

What is the biggest contributor to the enhanced greenhouse effect?

The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and livestock farming are causing a significant increase in greenhouse gases, leading to global warming. The 2011-2020 decade was the warmest, with the global average temperature reaching 1. 1°C above pre-industrial levels in 2019. Human-induced global warming is currently increasing at a rate of 0. 2°C per decade, with a 2°C increase compared to pre-industrial times posing serious environmental and human health risks, including the risk of catastrophic changes.

Who is responsible for greenhouse effect?

The Earth’s greenhouse effect is primarily caused by water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases are essential for maintaining Earth’s temperature for life, as without it, the Earth’s heat would escape into space, resulting in an average temperature of -20°C. The greenhouse effect occurs when most infrared radiation from the Sun is absorbed and re-emitted by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds, warming the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere. Greenhouse gases also increase the rate at which the atmosphere can absorb short-wave radiation from the Sun, but this has a weaker effect on global temperatures.

Who should be responsible for stopping climate change?

The UN Framework Convention outlines the responsibility of all countries to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference in the climate system. The degree of responsibility varies based on the contribution of each country to the problem. Annex I nations, such as wealthy and highly industrialized countries, are expected to take the lead in addressing climate change. The Convention was designed as a staged approach, with wealthy countries taking the lead and developing nations following later.

Industrialized and transition economies, such as Russia, are most responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. They became wealthy by trapping and tapping energy from fossil fuels, leading to large historic cumulative emissions. Countries like the United States, which are responsible for the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere today, are also most responsible for climate change, as these gases are driving both present and future climate change for at least the next 50 years due to the long-term presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Who contributes most to greenhouse gas emissions?

Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, there has been a notable increase in carbon dioxide emissions, predominantly resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels. The three countries with the highest levels of emissions are China, the United States, and the European Union. When emissions per capita are considered, the United States and Russia have the highest rates. The majority of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to a relatively limited number of countries.

Who is to blame for greenhouse gases?

The global climate crisis is largely attributed to our lifestyles, with the wealthiest individuals bearing the most significant responsibility. The wealthiest 1% of the global population combined account for more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 50%. As greenhouse gas concentrations rise, global surface temperature also rises, with the last decade being the warmest on record. This leads to more hot days and heat waves, increasing heat-related illnesses and making outdoor work more difficult.

Wildfires start and spread more rapidly when conditions are hotter, and Arctic temperatures have warmed at least twice as fast as the global average. Destructive storms have become more intense and frequent due to increased moisture evaporation, exacerbated by extreme rainfall and flooding. The frequency and extent of tropical storms are also affected by the warming ocean, with cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons feeding on warm waters, often causing destruction and significant economic losses.

How can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly?

Climate change mitigation involves reducing or preventing greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, such as transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, adopting regenerative agricultural practices, and protecting forests and ecosystems. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to limit global average temperatures to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a core ambition of limiting the increase to 1. 5°C.

This goal is crucial, especially for vulnerable communities already experiencing severe climate impacts, as it will result in less extreme weather events, sea level rise, stress on food production and water access, less biodiversity and ecosystem loss, and a lower chance of irreversible climate consequences. To achieve this, significant mitigation action is required, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 45% before 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century.

Who is to blame for the enhanced greenhouse effect?

The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, has resulted in a notable rise in greenhouse gas concentrations over the past century, largely due to human activity.

Who is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions?

Human activities have significantly contributed to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the past 150 years, with burning fossil fuels being the largest source of emissions in the United States. The EPA tracks total U. S. emissions and removals associated with human activities across the country by source, gas, and economic sector. The primary sources of U. S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks in each economic sector include fossil fuels, energy production, and transportation.

Who should deal with climate change?

All countries must take coordinated action to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, as the world is experiencing rapid heating and further warming is inevitable. Adaptation actions are needed to reduce climate impacts on vulnerable populations and meet the long-term temperature goal. Global near-term emissions reductions are critical, as the rise in temperature depends on the cumulative amount of emissions emitted. To deliver on the Paris Agreement, action now is necessary alongside each nation’s overall aim of reaching Net Zero.

The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has advised the UK Government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change for over a decade, achieving the largest reductions in emissions of any G20 economy since 1990.