A Reminder: 51.5% Of All Anthropogenic CO2 Emitted 1751-2019 Was Produced Since 1990

[hatrack]

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This graph shows that not only has humanity not succeed in reducing emissions following warnings on climate change in the late 1980s and 90s, but the emissions have also grown substantially, and we have now emitted as much since 1990 as in all of history before that time.

Slightly over half of all cumulative global CO2 emissions have taken place since 1990, the year of the first IPCC Assessment Report. The report re-confirmed anthropogenic climate change in a way that could not be ignored and led to the creation of the UNFCCC.

The year 1990 is often considered the latest dividing line after which policymakers can reasonably be considered to be aware of the dangers of human-induced climate change and thus clearly responsible for containing it, particularly in the countries responsible for the bulk of emissions until then. Indeed, significant civil society mobilisations were already underway by that time, and change was possible then.

The graph above, however, clearly shows that not only did we not succeed in reducing emissions following those warnings, they have, in fact, also grown substantially, and we have now emitted as much since 1990 as in all of history before that time. This is a significant failing of political and policy leaders. It represents a debt to future generations, as our collective carbon debt continues to pile up. The longer serious climate action is delayed, the more disruptive both adaptation and mitigation will become. The last generation of leaders has shifted an increasing burden onto the next generation; today’s leaders cannot afford the same mistake.

EDIT

https://ieep.eu/news/more-than-half-of-all-co2-emissions-since-1751-emitted-in-the-last-30-years

[captain queeg]

1. Air pollution is tied directly to human energy use

Burning fossil fuels is what causes the problem and man’s desire to utilize power is the cause. There were steam engines for a couple hundred years and of course fuel was burned for heat but for all man’s history, energy to do work came from human or animal power with small amounts of water or wind power. The trend won’t subside till we have consumed the majority of fossil fuels. Hopefully by the renewable energy will have developed enough to satisfy mankind’s desires.