The CO2 Problem

IN THE run-up to the Kyoto conference, it seems to have escaped nearly everyone’s attention just how quantitatively overwhelming will be the CO2 emitted by the non-participating countries, and just how futile will be the industrialized nations’ efforts to cut back on CO2. To understand this, it is necessary to review the fundamentals of electricity use throughout the world—electricity production through the burning of fossil fuels being a primary cause of CO2 emission.

In the United States, the average person uses almost 31 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, or 1.3 kilowatts (kW) continuously. About 70 per cent of that electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. In certain other fully modern countries (England, France, Germany, Japan), the per-capita average ranges from 0.6 to 0.8 kW. At the other end of the scale, in developing countries where, even if some cities are electrified, rural areas are generally without power, the number is much lower: Mexico uses 0.14 kW, Thailand 0.10, and Peru 0.05. India is way down, at 0.037. China is around 0.07.

TS

About the Author

Thomas P. Sheahen

Featured Tags

IN THE run-up to the Kyoto conference, it seems to have escaped nearly everyone’s attention just how quantitatively overwhelming will be the CO2 emitted by the non-participating countries, and just how futile will be the industrialized nations’ efforts to cut back on CO2. To understand this, it is necessary to review the fundamentals of electricity use throughout the world—electricity production through the burning of fossil fuels being a primary cause of CO2 emission.

In the United States, the average person uses almost 31 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, or 1.3 kilowatts (kW) continuously. About 70 per cent of that electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. In certain other fully modern countries (England, France, Germany, Japan), the per-capita average ranges from 0.6 to 0.8 kW. At the other end of the scale, in developing countries where, even if some cities are electrified, rural areas are generally without power, the number is much lower: Mexico uses 0.14 kW, Thailand 0.10, and Peru 0.05. India is way down, at 0.037. China is around 0.07.