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| This is (my attempt at) a Keeling Curve. This graph tells us about the increase in carbon dioxide concentration over the decades. The numbers on the left side is the carbon dioxide concentration in parts per million, while the bottom numbers obviously represent the year. This is not specific to Chile, but is representative of the upward trend we are all experiencing and perhaps contributing to. |
In step with a global trend, Chile's CO2 emissions have been pretty steadily on the rise since 1900. It is of interesting note, however, that between 1970 and 1990 we saw emissions peak (1970) and consistently drop through the 1980s. These numbers began to pick up again in 1990, and reached record levels by present day. As of 2010, Chile saw emissions of CO2 at 1.2 metric tons!
When trying to figure out why we saw a steady drop in CO2 admissions after 1970, I discovered that Chile was in a state of economic and political turmoil at this time. By 1973, inflation had risen by over 800%. The people of Chile were not happy with the cost of living, or the current president's handling of the nation, which lead to strikes. Truck owners, copper workers, and other factory hands refused to work, which could have resulted in reduced emissions during this time. By 1989, Chile had transitioned to a Democracy, ushering in a new age of prosperity for the people. This, of course, is when emissions again began to hike up.
In comparing Chile's CO2 emissions with that of the United States, which emits 4.9 metric tons as of 2008, Chile releases only 24% of the US's emissions. In terms of rank, Chile is number 93 on CDIAC's list of emissions per capita. The United States is listed at 12. I think a major component of this difference in emissions could be individual wealth. According to the OECD Better Life Index, the average disposable income of a family in Chile is just $11,000 (USD) a year. This is much less than the United States' $38,000 per year. I think that the amount of money boasted by the average American allows us to partake in and consume CO2-emitting activities and goods at higher rates. But of course, Chile's population, and therefore emissions, is profoundly smaller than ours (about 17 million vs. 313 million).
Now, in zooming back out into a slightly wider world view and then narrowing in a couple of select countries to gain a broader perspective of Chile's fossil fuel emissions, we'll examine the numeric relationship between Chile, the United States, and China.
The break down leaves Chile looking like quite the good, innocent, clean country of the bunch!
In 2008, Chile emitted 19,937 metric tons of fossil fuels. While this is a big number, the United States emitted 1,546,903 metric tons and China emitted an astounding 1,917,621 metric tons! This is the result of population and manufacturing. Of course, let us not be too hasty in jumping down China's throat. Though perhaps more regulation is needed in China, as it is in a great many nations, the US's emissions and China's are truly comparable when we look at the numbers- in the millions, it's just plain too much! However, when we factor in population, it is the US whose numbers seem staggering. China has 1,338,000,000 people to the US's 312,000,000. That means, if we were to just hypothetically break this down into emissions per person, each American would contribute .005 to every Chinese' .001. This means maybe the US had a bit more 'splainin to do! (It is of note, however, that per capita, Qatar is actually the biggest offender in fossil furl emissions.)
A quick closing note, it is important to remember that carbon emissions are different than carbon dioxide concentrations. Concentrations are the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, versus the amount we've emitted into the atmosphere.
