Environmental Science & Technology: Top policy paper for 2009
This year, Environmental Science & Technology is honoring 10 papers published in 2009 as the year’s best. They were selected from the over 1400 peer-reviewed articles published last year by ES&T’s Editor, Jerald Schnoor, in collaboration with the Associate Editors and the Editorial Advisory Board (EAB). In keeping with the journal’s international scope, the top papers originated from around the globe—five from the European Union, four from U.S. scientists, and one from a group based mainly in China.
The top policy paper for 2009 presents the first global comparison of national carbon footprints (Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1021/es803496a). Edgar Hertwich and Glen Peters of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (previously—Peters has since moved to CICERO) used a trade-linked model of the global economy and included the emissions of goods imported into the countries. Their analysis brings to light consumption and lifestyle issues that go undetected by domestic emission inventories, Klaus Hubacek of the University of Maryland told ES&T when the paper was published.
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es100414j
Scientific Article:
Carbon Footprint of Nations: A Global, Trade-Linked Analysis
Processes causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefit humans by providing consumer goods and services. This benefit, and hence the responsibility for emissions, varies by purpose or consumption category and is unevenly distributed across and within countries. We quantify greenhouse gas emissions associated with the final consumption of goods and services for 73 nations and 14 aggregate world regions. We analyze the contribution of 8 categories: construction, shelter, food, clothing, mobility, manufactured products, services, and trade. National average per capita footprints vary from 1 tCO2e/y in African countries to 30t/y in Luxembourg and the United States.
Edgar G. Hertwich*† and Glen P. Peters†‡
Industrial Ecology Programme and Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway, and Center for International Climate and Environment Research-Oslo, P.O. Box. 1129, Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway
Environ. Sci. Technol., 2009, 43 (16), pp 6414–6420
DOI: 10.1021/es803496a
Publication Date (Web): June 15, 2009
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es803496a
Tags: carbon, climate, climate science, climate talks, ClimateGate, combating climate change, IPCC, UNFCCC
