<p>These are from the EPA's site for 2013. The top is USA emissions and the bottom, global.  I guess that's the most recent year for which they have complete results. And you're right; electricity and transportation account for 58% of total CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.<br><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qObnq.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qObnq.jpg" alt="Source: EPA, USA"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rXCC2.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rXCC2.jpg" alt="EPA, Global"></a>
<br>The site is available <a href="http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources.html" rel="noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-09T13:47:15.230Z
@Christoph  The much larger amount of natural CO2 is part of a cycle, it's both added and removed largely in balance every year, so the net added by nature is much smaller.    The sizable majority of net added CO2 at the end of almost any given 12 month period is man made, not natural.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-02T17:31:51.637Z
Isn't this only for US emissions? I am not sure one can extrapolate to the rest of the world.
Isopycnal Oscillation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-02T17:34:45.780Z
Oh, you're right! I'll see if I can track down global data.
BillDOe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T08:47:23.513Z
It should be pointed out that the by far largest source of CO2 in the atmosphere is actually the natural source. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_Earth's_atmosphere, only around 3% of the global CO2 emissions are anthropogenic.
Christoph
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T17:44:06.500Z
According to an article here: https://www.skepticalscience.com/human-co2-smaller-than-natural-emissions.htm humans contribute 29 gigatons of the 750 gigatons of CO2 moving through the atmosphere each year. That works out to about 3.86%.
BillDOe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-02T17:28:53.143Z
2015-09-02T17:43:14.750Z
2015-09-02T17:43:14.750Z
BillDOe
<p>What are the main sources of $\ce{CO2}$ emission to the atmosphere? I know that the answer would probably be from the electricity sector and transportation but wouldn't most of the carbon dioxide produced from power plant be captured and stored by the CCS technology? Is it because not all the plants has the CCS technology to capture the $\ce{CO2}$? Or are there any scenario where CCS technology cannot be used e.g cars?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-02T17:19:37.100Z
It seems like you are assuming most power plants have CCS.  Quite the opposite.   see http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_storage#Example_CCS_projects
f.thorpe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-03T02:59:36.840Z
Do you know the reason why? Is it because of the cost?
Innocent98
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T19:24:08.053Z
There are many reasons... first of all your production goes down due to the increased energy cost of trapping CO2 and converting to liquid.  Second there aren't many places that are sited where CO2 could be injected underground safely.  Third, it's a new technology still being developed... mainly it is used as a test project.  Fourth, there is a lot of animosity because it isn't considered a viable climate solution by many people.
f.thorpe
<atmosphere><co2>
Main sources of $\ce{CO2}$ emission to the atmosphere
Innocent98
# Main sources of $\ce{CO2}$ emission to the atmosphere

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-02)

What are the main sources of $\ce{CO2}$ emission to the atmosphere? I know that the answer would probably be from the electricity sector and transportation but wouldn't most of the carbon dioxide produced from power plant be captured and stored by the CCS technology? Is it because not all the plants has the CCS technology to capture the $\ce{CO2}$? Or are there any scenario where CCS technology cannot be used e.g cars?

**Tags:** atmosphere, co2

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It seems like you are assuming most power plants have CCS.  Quite the opposite.   see http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_storage#Example_CCS_projects  
> **username_0**: Do you know the reason why? Is it because of the cost?  
> **username_1**: There are many reasons... first of all your production goes down due to the increased energy cost of trapping CO2 and converting to liquid.  Second there aren't many places that are sited where CO2 could be injected underground safely.  Third, it's a new technology still being developed... mainly it is used as a test project.  Fourth, there is a lot of animosity because it isn't considered a viable climate solution by many people.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-09-02. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

These are from the EPA's site for 2013. The top is USA emissions and the bottom, global. I guess that's the most recent year for which they have complete results. And you're right; electricity and transportation account for 58% of total CO2 emissions.  
[![Source: EPA, USA](https://i.sstatic.net/qObnq.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/qObnq.jpg)

[![EPA, Global](https://i.sstatic.net/rXCC2.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/rXCC2.jpg)
  
The site is available [here](http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources.html).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Isn't this only for US emissions? I am not sure one can extrapolate to the rest of the world.  
> **username_2**: Oh, you're right! I'll see if I can track down global data.  
> **username_5**: It should be pointed out that the by far largest source of CO2 in the atmosphere is actually the natural source. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_Earth's_atmosphere, only around 3% of the global CO2 emissions are anthropogenic.  
> **username_2**: According to an article here: https://www.skepticalscience.com/human-co2-smaller-than-natural-emissions.htm humans contribute 29 gigatons of the 750 gigatons of CO2 moving through the atmosphere each year. That works out to about 3.86%.  
> **username_3**: @username_5  The much larger amount of natural CO2 is part of a cycle, it's both added and removed largely in balance every year, so the net added by nature is much smaller.    The sizable majority of net added CO2 at the end of almost any given 12 month period is man made, not natural.  

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