Understanding the various sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has been a significant challenge for those seeking to comprehend climate change. Climate TRACE has now introduced a detailed map of global GHG emissions, empowering individuals to investigate their local sources of pollution that contribute to climate change.
Unveiled at the United Nations COP28 climate meeting in Dubai, this comprehensive database precisely identifies nearly every major source of GHG emissions. Encompassing human-induced emissions from over 352 million sources, including power plants, steel mills, ships, oil refineries, and landfills, Climate TRACE allows users to explore local activities like fertilizer application, deforestation, and wildfires that contribute to global warming.
This level of detail is essential for driving action and accountability on a global scale against climate change.
Mapping Emissions And More
This tool gathers and interprets data from satellites, remote sensing, and various public and commercial sources to address crucial gaps in previously available inventories. The user-friendly map offers an intuitive way to understand the contributions of CO2, methane, and other GHGs to a region’s emissions, filling in the gaps left by many corporate emissions not yet included in self-reported ESG databases.
Climate TRACE’s efforts are yielding practical applications. Companies like Tesla, Polestar, and Boeing are collaborating with the organization to enhance their emissions data, particularly in decarbonizing supply chains and evaluating decarbonization strategies in sectors like aviation.
Climate TRACE enables users to view emissions data on a global, national, state, and local level, offering insights into individual sources of emissions, including specific examples such as Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and local landfills near Earth911. Additional layers of information include transportation-related emissions for metropolitan areas and future categories focusing on the GHG impact of buildings.
A Tool For Action
This inventory also serves as a tool for taking action. As former U.S. Vice President and Climate TRACE co-founder Al Gore pointed out, it eliminates any excuse for inaction by businesses, governments, and other entities in swiftly and substantially reducing emissions.
The database’s release aligns with the United Nations’ urgent call to reduce emissions by at least 42% by 2030 to meet the 1.5°C pathway and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. It highlights variations in emissions intensity within industries, influenced by factors such as location and local policies, offering citizens valuable insights into local polluters.
Climate TRACE’s achievements showcase the power of scientific collaboration, AI, and machine learning in addressing climate challenges. The significant expansion of its dataset is a remarkable feat, according to Gavin McCormick, executive director of WattTime and co-founding member of Climate TRACE.
Available to the public for free, Climate TRACE empowers individuals to take action in combating the most pressing issue of our time: ending atmospheric warming. Take a few minutes to explore your region using this groundbreaking tool.
