2013 Global Carbon Emission at Record 36 Billion Tons

The Global Carbon Project released figures on global carbon dioxide emissions for 2013 and it is estimated to hit 36 billion tons. That is up 61% from CO2 emissions from 1990.

Noticable changes in the Earth's climate such as unusual weather systems, rising ocean levels, and changing temperatures are being attributed to rising carbon dioxide levels.

On 11 December 1997, an international agreement, The Kyoto Protocol, was adopted in Kyoto Japan by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to set internationally binding emission reduction targets. It set binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In December 2012, an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, "Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol", was adopted. The amendment included a second commitment period for parties to agree on new commitments, a revised list of greenhouse gases to be reported on, and updates on existing articles which would be affected by the new period.

Despite the agreement, global carbon emission have been steadily increasing year to year at an average 2.7 percent for the last 10 years. 2013 and 2012 are projected to be arond 2.2 percent which is slightly lower than the average. Scientists believe that governments should agree to reverse this trend if emissions must fall and limit warming and climate change.

In 2012, the biggest contributors to carbon emissions China (27%), the U.S. (14%), the EU (10%), and India (6%).

Ordinary Cars Go Green and Reduce Carbon Footprint

Product Advancements Let Drivers Go Green Without a New Car.

With gas prices soaring, environmental concerns and technological advancements in the auto and energy industry, ecological cars (eco cars) are slowly entering the mainstream market. Eco cars are vehicles that do not solely rely on fossil fuels for energy.

The most popularly used energy source for eco cars is electricity. Fuel cells (usually lithium-ion battery cells) power an electric engine that drives the car. Hybrid engines use both a gasoline engine and a battery operated one that alternates between each other depending on the most optimal choice. There are also pure electric vehicles but are limited in terms of range and use.

These type of vehicles have come into focus because of the movement to reduce the global carbon footprint. Carbon footprint can be simplified as the greenhouse gas emissions in an area, by an event, product, or person(s). The largest source of emissions come from driving fossil fueled vehicles (gasoline use). Reducing the carbon footprint from driving can be done primarily by driving less, or at the moment, developing more environment-friendly cars.

Aside from engine and power plant, there are also other ways for vehicles to go green. Taking alternative transportation (public transportation, bicycles, walking) when the distance is not too far, scheduling trips during lean traffic hours, Using more environment-friendly products can also benefit the green movement and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Silicon and Carbon Composite Material In Lithium Ion Batteries for High Capacity and Long Cycle Life

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reports on its study on the use of composite silicon and carbon materials as anodes for high capacity and long cycle lithium ion batteries. This research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society as part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

Abstract: Fundamental microstructural designing concepts for high capacity and long cycle life of anode materials based on carbon and silicon for lithium ion battery

Chongmin Wang, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Phone: 509-371-6268
Email: Chongmin.wang@pnnl.gov

Organic Ferroelectric Molecule Developed As An Alternative To Silicon For Semiconductors

Electrical response overlaid on the newly characterized organic molecular crystal.
Credit: Jiangyu Li, University of Washington

Diisopropylammonium bromide is a new organic molecule synthesized from bromine, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen that may be an alternative to silicon for use in semiconductors and other memory, sensing and low-cost energy storage applications.

Organic molecules are molecules that contain carbon. Carbon is a versatile atom and can attach easily to other atoms (forming 4 covalent bonds). The science of designing, synthesizing, characterizing, and developing applications for molecules that contain carbon is called organic chemistry.

Organic molecules are often associated with living things but for organic compounds this is not necessarily the case. The term comes from the old belief that certain compounds and molecules require a "life-force" of a living thing to be generated. The belief has been discredited but the term still remains.

Organic chemistry applications range from the medical to the industrial. One role of organic chemists is to synthesize and develop new molecules that will address a problem or enhance a product.

Synthetic organic compounds usually carry properties that enhance a process, mitigate or address a design/process flaw, or solve a problem. Most of these applications can be seen in pharmaceutical and consumer products.