California’s Carbon Emissions: A Historical Perspective
Carbon Emissions: A Growing Problem
Carbon dioxide emissions are a major contributor to climate change, and the United States is one of the world’s largest emitters. In fact, California’s carbon emissions are now greater than the entire country’s were in 1888.
Historical Trends in Carbon Emissions
The World Resources Institute (WRI) has compiled data on how countries’ carbon emissions have changed since 1850. This data shows that different major polluters came online at different times.
In 1850, the United Kingdom was the top emitter of carbon dioxide, with emissions nearly six times those of the United States. France, Germany, and Belgium completed the list of top five emitters.
By 2011, China had become the world’s largest emitter, followed by the United States, India, Russia, and Japan. Notably, while the United States remained the world’s second-largest emitter in both years, its emissions in 2011 were 266 times greater than those in 1850.
California’s Emissions: A Case Study
In 1888, the United States took the top spot as the world’s largest carbon polluter. At that time, the total emissions coming from the entire country were the same as California alone emits today.
While California’s population is not much smaller than the entire United States of 1888, it is still striking to compare the state’s current emissions to the country’s emissions over a century ago.
The Global Impact of Carbon Emissions
The Earth’s atmosphere can only absorb a finite amount of carbon dioxide before the climate is pushed into unprecedented and destabilizing territory. Although carbon dioxide is eventually removed from the air by plants, bacteria, and the ocean, much of the carbon dioxide emitted since the Industrial Revolution is still present in the atmosphere today.
Equity in Carbon Emissions
If we were to be fair about allocating carbon dioxide emissions, countries’ allotments would be based on their historical contributions to the problem.
In 2007, developing nations’ emissions first outpaced the emissions from industrialized countries. While everyone on Earth needs to work together to combat climate change, it is important to remember that some countries have contributed more to the problem than others.
Conclusion
Climate change is a global problem, but some countries have contributed more to it than others. It is important to consider historical emissions when developing strategies to address climate change and ensure a fair and equitable transition to a low-carbon future.
