Car History 4U - Greenhouse Gases

This is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change that took place in Kyoto, Japan in 1997.
The 40 developed countries, plus the “European Communiity”, that ratified the protocol agreed to reduce their collective emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases by at least 5% (the “Annex 1 Parties to the Convention”).
This was to be achieved by the period 2008-2012.
By mid 2007 the protocol also included 149 less-developed countries who have no emission reduction obligations.
The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in February 2005 when it was ratified, as required, by “at least 55 parties to the convention”.
In 2006 the Kyoto Protocol covered over 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

2.2 The Six Greenhouse Gases

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Mainly from burning fossil fuels.
Methane (CH4): The result of natural gas processing, livestock operations, solid waste dumps and pipeline leaks.
Nitrous Oxide (N20): Mainly from fertiliser use.

The other three gases are: (1) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). (2) Perfluorocarbons (PFCs). (3) Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6).
Note: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are covered by the 1987 Montreal Protocol.

2.3 CO2

The combustion of hydrocarbons (petroleum fuels) produces CO2.
The amount of CO2 emitted by a vehicle is measured in grams per kilometer (g/km) or grams per mile (g/mi).

2.4 Vehicle Emissions

In order of importance the three most important greenhouse gases associated with vehicles are:

Overall emission levels for petrol powered cars are being reduced partly by the increased use of three-way catalytic converters and fuel injection systems. Overall emission levels for diesel vehicles are also being reduced by the development of direct injection engines and diesel particulate filters.
Note: Diesel powered cars typically emit about 20% fewer greenhouse gases than petrol powered cars.

2.5 The European Union (EU)

The EU ratified the Kyoto Protocol in May 2002.
Emission reduction figures in the EU have included the voluntary figure of 140 g/km (2008) and proposed mandatory figures of 130 g/km (2012) and 80 g/km (2020).
The average figure for new cars in Europe in 1995 was 185 g/km. This figure reduced to 162 g/km in 2005.
Transport produced 28% of the EU's CO2 emissions in 2004, with cars accounting for about 10% of all CO2 emissions.

2.6 The United States

In the United States a “Greenhouse Gas Score” is used to indicate a vehicle’s CO2 exhaust emission, where 10 is the best. It is determined from the vehicle’s estimated fuel economy and the type of fuel used.

2.7 Vehicles With Low CO2 Emission

Note: In 2002 the CO2 figure of a typical compact car was 150 g/km, 248g/km for large car and 350g/km for a typical pick-up truck.