Open AccessA review of trends and drivers of greenhouse gas emissions by sector from 1990 to 2018
Author(s) -
William F. Lamb,
Thomas Wiedmann,
Julia Pongratz,
Robbie M. Andrew,
Monica Crippa,
J. G. J. Olivier,
Dominik Wiedenhofer,
Giulio Mattioli,
Alaa Al Khourdajie,
Joanna I. House,
Shonali Pachauri,
Maria J. Figueroa,
Yamina Saheb,
Raphael Slade,
Klaus Hubacek,
Laixiang Sun,
Suzana Kahn Ribeiro,
Smail Khennas,
Stephane de la Rue du Can,
Lazarus Chapungu,
Steven J. Davis,
И. А. Башмаков,
Hancheng Dai,
Shobhakar Dhakal,
Xianjun Tan,
Yong Geng,
Baihe Gu,
Jan C. Minx
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.37
H-Index - 124
ISSN - 1748-9326
DOI - 10.1088/1748-9326/abee4e
Subject(s) - greenhouse gas , natural resource economics , anthropocene , agriculture , fossil fuel , renewable energy , climate change , global warming , business , geography , economics , ecology , archaeology , biology
Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be traced to five economic sectors: energy, industry, buildings, transport and AFOLU (agriculture, forestry and other land uses). In this topical review, we synthesise the literature to explain recent trends in global and regional emissions in each of these sectors. To contextualise our review, we present estimates of GHG emissions trends by sector from 1990 to 2018, describing the major sources of emissions growth, stability and decline across ten global regions. Overall, the literature and data emphasise that progress towards reducing GHG emissions has been limited. The prominent global pattern is a continuation of underlying drivers with few signs of emerging limits to demand, nor of a deep shift towards the delivery of low and zero carbon services across sectors. We observe a moderate decarbonisation of energy systems in Europe and North America, driven by fuel switching and the increasing penetration of renewables. By contrast, in rapidly industrialising regions, fossil-based energy systems have continuously expanded, only very recently slowing down in their growth. Strong demand for materials, floor area, energy services and travel have driven emissions growth in the industry, buildings and transport sectors, particularly in Eastern Asia, Southern Asia and South-East Asia. An expansion of agriculture into carbon-dense tropical forest areas has driven recent increases in AFOLU emissions in Latin America, South-East Asia and Africa. Identifying, understanding, and tackling the most persistent and climate-damaging trends across sectors is a fundamental concern for research and policy as humanity treads deeper into the Anthropocene.