Growth rates of carbon dioxide emission in India

Estimates have been made of the carbon dioxide (CO/sub 2/) emission into the atmosphere through the combustion of non-fossil and fossil fuels in India for the period 1950-1982. Results show that 6.5 x 10/sup 15/ g C has been added to the earth's atmosphere. Of this, the individual contributions have been 69.2% by fire-wood, 23.7% by coal, 6.2% by petroleum products, 0.3% by natural gas and 0.8% by cement industry. Although CO/sub 2/ production has increased only by two-fold due to fire-wood as compared to four-fold due to coal and ten-fold due to petroleum products, during the 33-year period since 1950, fire-wood still remains as the major producer of CO/sub 2/ for many years to come. During 1950 to 1980, the average growth rate of CO/sub 2/ emissions from fossil fuels in India has been 4.8% per year as against the global average rate of 4.2%. The sum total of the CO/sub 2/ emissions by the various fuels consumed has contributed 3.78% to the global release during the 23-year period since 1958 when observations started at Mouna Loa.