Some interesting and Crucial-for-Climate tidbits (since our actions are in South Asia, these figures are being kept limited to South Asia. For comparison, World figures and Chinese figures – as largest current emitter- are taken)—
** Clarification – Only current & projected emissions are taken, not Historic emissions (those are already in the atmosphere and the Oceans).
— Soumya.
A. Some good news —
1. Over the last decade (2010-2020), the number of coal power plants planned to be built but cancelled (for various reasons, resistance included, but more for economic reasons), adds up to an avoided Lifetime CO2 emissions of — 257 billion tons (Gt).
2. This is close to almost half the total remaining “carbon space” calculated by some scientists (though by good science, we likely have no more C-space left).
3. In India, these cancelled coal power plants add up to a Lifetime CO2 emissions of a whopping 88 bilion tons (Gt) !
4. The cancelled coal power plants in China (2010-2020) amounts to 95 Gtons.
5. In South Asia, the emerging Coal Power, Bangladesh, cancelled plants had an estimated lifetime emissions of — 1.5 Gtons.
B. The Bad news–
B1. Committed lifetime CO2 emissions from operating plants-
6. The operating coal power plants world wide, would emit over their lifetimes an estimated 207 Gtons.
7. The Chinese coal power plants (operating) would emit the largest (obvious) – an estimated 129 Gtons.
8. The operating Indian coal power plants are estimated to emit (lifetime) about 27 billion tons (or) Gtons.
9. Bangladesh has a small contribution here, at an estimated 180 million tons (most of Bangladesh’s power and energy comes from Gas, which has a roughly 50% lower per MW carbon footprint, lesser if it’s combined cycle plant).
B2. More Bad news –
10. The under construction coal power plants world wide, are estimated to emit (lifetime) another 28 Gtons.
11. The under construction plants in China (by far the biggest CO2 emitter & coal user), totals a lifetime emissions of 13.6 Gtons.
12. Under construction Indian coal plants have estimated lifetime emissions of 5.6 Gtons.
13. Under construction coal power plants in Bangladesh are estimated to emit (lifetime) about 729 million tons. Thus Bangladesh is planning to transform itself from a Gas-dependent economy to partly a Coal-dependent economy. And this largely on imported coal.
——————-
Soumya Dutta.
Data source – Global Energy Monitor.
