The last decade of global anthropogenic sulfur dioxide: 2000–2011 emissions

TLDR

Global and regional anthropogenic SO₂ emissions from 2000–2011 were quantified using a bottom‑up calculation. SO₂ emissions rose until about 2006, then fell through 2011, with North America and Europe reducing output, Asia and shipping rising, China’s energy sector declining after stricter limits and flue‑gas desulfurization, and other Asian countries lacking similar measures; overall trends align with RCP projections and 2005 uncertainty.

Abstract

The evolution of global and regional anthropogenic SO2 emissions in the last decade has been estimated through a bottom-up calculation. After increasing until about 2006, we estimate a declining trend continuing until 2011. However, there is 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 a significant decline in emissions from the energy sector and stabilization of total 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 an international agreement to reduce the sulfur content of fuel oil. The estimated trends in global SO2 emissions are within the range of representative concentration pathway (RCP) projections and the uncertainty previously estimated for the year 2005.