The conversion of one million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE), the basic energy unit employed in the Review, was taken here as 41.868 petajoules and the specific factors applied to the three fossil fuels were: for oil -19.9 million tonnes of carbon (not the dioxide) per exajoule (MTC/EJ); for natural gas -13.8 MTC/EJ; and for coal - 24.1 MTC/EJ, all calculated on the basis of the higher heating value. Should it be desired to express emissions in terms of carbon dioxide rather than the carbon convention used in this note, the factor is 3.67. The data listed in the following table is useful for making relative comparisons among nations and regions, and between the subject year and that preceding. Absolute values have to await detailed `bottom-up' assessments. The limitations on the use of energy consumption data for the estimation of carbon dioxide emissions have been noted previously. (Walsh, J.H. (1993) 1992 Carbon Dioxide Sheet, Energy Studies Review, 5:2, p.131-5).

World

Global emissions of carbon dioxide from the three fossil fuels increased +1.78% in 2008 compared to +2.79% in 2007. The total primary energy consumption (excluding biomass and non-commercial forms of energy as is the practice in the Review) rose 1.4% in 2008 compared to 2.4% in 2007. The fossil fuels accounted for 88.2% of the world's total primary energy consumption in 2008, as compared to 88.0% in 2007.

Canada and other Industrialized Countries

In the United States, carbon dioxide emissions fell -3.12% in 2008 and, for the first time, were surpassed by those from China. U.S. emissions accounted for 20.22% of the world's total in 2008 but there is now good evidence of a gradual downward trend with 21.30% reported for 2007, 21.44% for 2006, 22.38% for 2005, 22.98% for 2004, 23.91% for 2003 and 24.74% for 2002. There was a small absolute decline in the European Union as a whole, with declines also reported in Australia and Japan.

Emissions in the Eastern European/CIS category eastern region increased +1.72% in 2008.

Though a member of the EU, France is listed separately because of the importance of nuclear power in that country approaching 80% of the generation in 2008. Nuclear energy accounted for 38.6% of the primary energy supply on the fuel input calculation basis used in the Review. French emissions increased +1.10% in 2008. In Canada and France, natural gas is a larger source of carbon dioxide emissions than coal and, in the eastern group of nations, emissions from this convenient fuel are greater than from either oil or coal.

Developing Countries

International climate change negotiations continued during the year with the major objective to set a new direction for the post-Kyoto period at a meeting to be held in Copenhagen 7-18 December 2009. For this reason, a short history of the Kyoto Protocol is included here. At the Third Conference of the Parties (COP 3) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Kyoto 1-10 December 1997, Canada committed itself to reduce combined CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O emissions by 6% below 1990 levels and combined HFC, PFC and SF₆ emissions by 6% below 1995 levels between 2008 and 2012. Because of economic and population growth expected in the intervening period, Canada needs, in effect, to reduce its emissions some 20-25% below what they would be otherwise in 2010. The instrument of ratification was signed by then Prime Minister Chrétien on 16 December 2002 after approval by Parliament and the Senate on 10 December and 12 December 2002 respectively. Canada thus became the 100th country to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on 17 December 2002.

On 5 November 2004, Russia became the 126th country to ratify the Kyoto Protocol after approval by its Duma. With Russia included, there were sufficient adherents among the industrialized countries to account for the required 55% of the emissions of the six greenhouse gases for the chosen base year of 1990 required under the Protocol. Ninety days after Russia officially informed the United Nations of its ratification on 18 November 2004, this first international binding agreement to control greenhouse gas emissions became effective on 16 February 2005. Australia and the United States, however, with important domestic coal industries, did not ratify the agreement on the grounds of economic disadvantage. No specific targets were required of the developing countries, notably China and India, which were characterized by low per capita emissions as compared to the developed world.

In March 2008, the federal government released further details on targets and compliance mechanisms for the Regulatory Framework for Greenhouse Gas Emissions as it relates to large final emitters, mainly in the industrial and power generations sectors. On 23 September 2008, partners of the Western Climate Change Initiative (WCI) released a proposed design for a comprehensive regional cap-and-trade program to reduce GHGs related to global warming. The WCI cap-and-trade program covers the largest sources of emissions for each participating state and Canadian province, including power generation, industry, transportation, and residential and commercial fuel use. Also in 2008, provincial legislation on climate change was introduced so that all provices now have, at least at some level, climate change initatives in place. Both British Columbia and Manitoba legislation now include across-the-board climate change targets. As part of its Energy Plan, British Columbia also implemented a carbon-based price premium on gasoline, diesel and home heating fuels. Quebec's Climate Change Action Plan had also levied a tax on fossil fuels in 2007.

In July 2008, the Alberta government announced its commitment to provide $2 billion in funding for the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce emissions from large-scale operations including oil sands facilities and coal-fired electricity generation. The initial goal is to sequester five million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the ground annually by 2015.