Energy Magazine April 2016 | Page 8

TECHNOLOGY
cities . The European Commission and Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency released a report showing results from the EDGAR ( Electronic Data Gathering , Analysis and Retrieval ) database regarding carbon footprints of the planet . In 2014 , the top 10 countries with the biggest carbon footprints accounted for 68.2 percent of the total carbon emissions . The total amount of carbon dioxide emissions for the world was 35.6 million .
These 10 countries include :
• China : 10.5 million CO2 emissions ( kt )
• USA : 5.3 million kt
• European Union : 3.4 million kt
• India : 2.3 million kt
• Russia : 1.7 million kt
• Japan : 1.2 kt
• Germany : 767,000 kt
• Iran : 618,000 kt
• South Korea : 610,000 kt
• Canada : 565,000 kt
Making a market of pollution sounds out of touch , but in truth this economical solution is holding massive metropolitan spaces in check . If a city doesn ’ t have enough emissions credits to be within its emissions allowances , and they exceed their limits , they can buy credits from another city . Some cities have figured out other means for meeting their limits . Cities , such as San Francisco , Copenhagen , Portland , Vaxjo and Bristol , are exceeding expectations for emission reduction .
Cleaner Flower Power of San Francisco California leads the the emissions conversation in the U . S . There , truck drivers are banned from idling , and the state has the most progressive emissions controls standards in the country . San Francisco , the most densely populated city in California with more than 18,187 people per square mile , is equally as passionate about climate control . In order to stymie the steadily increasing release of carbon dioxide emissions in San Francisco , serious steps are being taken .
By focusing on three main areas — waste , transportation and buildings — San Francisco is striving for the greenest streets in the state . San Francisco Department of the Environment ( SFE ) director Melanie Nutter notes , “ Our citywide carbon
8 April 2016