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Anthropogenic CO2 emissions in Africa
J. G. Canadell1, M. R. Raupach1, and R. A. Houghton2
1Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
2Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, MA 02540, USA
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Abstract. An understanding of the regional contributions and trends of anthropogenic
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is critical to design mitigation
strategies aimed at stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gases. Here we report
CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and land use change in
Africa for various time periods. Africa was responsible for an average of
500 TgC y−1 for the period 2000–2005. These emissions resulted from the
combustion of fossil fuels (260 TgC y−1) and land use change
(240 TgC y−1). Over this period, the African share of global emissions from land
use change was 17%. For 2005, the last year reported in this study,
African fossil fuel emissions were 285 TgC accounting for 3.7% of the
global emissions. The 2000–2005 growth rate in African fossil fuel emissions
was 3.2% y−1, very close to the global average. Fossil fuel emissions
per capita in Africa are among the lowest in the world, at 0.32 tC y−1 compared to the global average of 1.2 tC y−1. The average amount of
carbon (C) emitted as CO2 to produce 1 US $ of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) in Africa in 2005 was 187 gC/$, close to the world average of 199 gC/$. With the fastest population growth in the world and rising per
capita GDP, Africa is likely to increase its share of global emissions over
the coming decades although emissions from Africa will remain low compared to
other continents.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 1479 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 3 Comments) Final Revised Paper (BG)
Citation: Canadell, J. G., Raupach, M. R., and Houghton, R. A.: Anthropogenic CO2 emissions in Africa, Biogeosciences Discuss., 5, 4395-4411, 2008. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
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