China Will Be Responsible for The Most Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide In Twenty Years; What Can They Do?

Since 1965, no country has put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the United States. The 264 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide the U.S. has emitted to the atmosphere represented 22.5% of global emissions during that time and was well ahead of the cumulative 216 billion metric tons from the European Union (EU). In second place among the two countries was the 188 billion tons emitted by china.

 

As China industrialized -- with a heavy reliance on coal-fired power -- Chinese emissions took place of the U.S. and the EU and became number one. China's emissions passed those of the U.S. in 2005, and by 2012 had surpassed the combined contribution of both the U.S. and the EU. Should recent trends continue, China will be responsible for the most atmospheric carbon dioxide in less than 20 years. Not only that but the Asia Pacific region is home to both China and India -- two of the world’s most populated countries and of which emit the most carbon dioxide. Considering all this carbon dioxide being released into the air, the question that still stands is what can China do? As a matter of fact, what can the entirety of the world do to aid this severe issue that damages the globe as a whole? Well, many scientists have been focusing on Carbon sequestration, the act of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This research on carbon sequestration has been demonstrated many times before. There have been many studies and breakthroughs. One journal titled, Nature Communications, provides a step-by-step guide in turning Co2 into coal.  Another group of scientists has created a “net” that captures Co2 from the atmosphere. All of these breakthroughs, research, and inventions demonstrate ways that the entirety of planet Earth could be focusing on to aid this dilemma that is affecting the globe.