Evolution of global and regional anthropogenic SO2 emissions in the last decade has been estimated through a bottom-up calculation for recent years. After a strong increase in emissions that peaked about 2006, we estimate a declining trend continuing until 2011. However, there is a strong spatial variability with North America and Europe continuing to reduce emissions with an increasing role of Asia and international shipping. China remains a key contributor but the introduction of stricter emission limits followed by an ambitious program of installing flue gas desulfurization on power plants resulted in significant decline in emissions from energy sector and stabilization of Chinese SO2 emissions. Comparable mitigation strategies are not yet present in several other Asian countries and industrial sectors in general, while emissions from international shipping are expected to start declining soon following agreed reduction of sulfur content of fuel oil. Estimated trends in global SO2 emissions are within the range of RCP projections and uncertainty calculated for the year 2005.
Revised: January 18, 2013 |
Published: January 9, 2013
Citation
Klimont Z., S.J. Smith, and J. Cofala. 2013.The last decade of global anthropogenic sulfur dioxide: 2000-2011 emissions.Environmental Research Letters 8, no. 1:Article No. 014003.PNNL-SA-89939.doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/014003