Question

The planet may be threatened by climate change due to unsustainable activities, possibly caused by burning fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas and coal) that produce carbon dioxide (CO2). The table stored in file CO2 EMISSIONS.XLSX (in the course website) lists the top 15 producers of CO2 (millions of metric tonnes) from fossil fuels in 2009 and 2013. Using this data, answer the questions below.

(a) Use an appropriate graphical technique to compare the amount of CO2 emissions (in millions of metric tonnes) in 2009 and 2013, broken down by the producer countries. (1 mark)

(b) Use an appropriate graphical technique to compare the percentage value of the amount of CO2 emissions (in %) in 2009 and 2013, broken down by the producer countries. (1 mark)

(c) Comment your observations in parts (a) and (b).

Top 15 CO2 Producers
Country	2009	2013
United States	5957	5300
China	5323	10330
Russia	1696	1800
Japan	1230	1360
India	1166	2070
Germany	844	840
Canada	631	550
United Kingdom	577	480
South Korea	500	630
Italy	467	390
Iran	451	410
South Africa	424	330
France	415	370
Saudi Arabia	412	490
Australia	407	390
	Source: EDGAR: Trends in Global CO2 emmissions: 2014 Report

Answer 1

(a)

In the below graph:

Blue bars: CO2 emissions(in millions of metric tonnes) in 2009

Red bars: CO2 emissions(in millions of metric tonnes) in 2013.

(b)

Percentage of CO2 emissions in 2009 and 2013:

% in 2009, % in 2013, Country

29.06, 20.59, US

(it means 29.06% in 2009 and 20.59% in 2013 in United States).

26, 40.13, China

8.3, 6.99, Russia

6, 5.28, Japan

5.69, 8.04, India

4.12, 3.26, Germany

3.08, 2.14, Canada

2.81, 1.86, UK

2.44, 2.45, South Korea

2.28, 1.52, Italy

4.3, 1.59, Iran

2.07, 1.28, South Africa

2.02, 1.44, France

2.01, 1.90, Saudi Arabia

1.98, 1.52, Australia

In the below graph:

Blue bars: % of CO2 emissions in 2009

Red bars: % of CO2 emissions in 2013.

Note that the percentages are rounded off and so, you may see slight differences from the above graph regarding the heights of bars.

(c)

There is a significant decline in CO2 emissions in United States from 2009 to 2013 (by about 9%).

There is a significant increase in CO2 emissions in China from 2009 to 2013 (by about 14%).

However, in both the years, US and China are top CO2 emitting countries among the given 15 countries.

In 2009, US and China alone emitted about 55% of total CO2.

(about 45% is shared by other 13 countries).

In 2013, US and China alone emitted about 61% of total CO2.

(about 39% is shared by other 13 countries).