Energy Consumption Policy, GHG Emissions and Climate Change Impact in Algeria
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Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 306-315 J. Environ. Treat. Tech. ISSN: 2309-1185 Journal weblink: http://www.jett.dormaj.com Energy Consumption Policy, GHG Emissions and Climate Change Impact in Algeria Abdelkarim Mellah, Youcef Abdelhafid, Ahmed Benmalek Centre de recherche scientifique et technique sur les régions arides, CRSTRA, Biskra. Received: 25/04/2019 Accepted: 11/06/2019 Published: 01/12/2019 Abstract In recent years, the phenomenon of climate change has become very remarkable in Algeria, given its recorded effects on the temperature and precipitation. Algeria is among the top 50 countries at high risk of climate change, with a vulnerability index of 7.63%, because of its geographical position and climatic characteristics. This climate change leads to major risks in Algeria such as the displacement of sub-Saharan diseases like malaria, typhoid, and viral hepatitis, etc..., phenomenon of colored waters on the coast, drought on wide ranges, coastal erosion is also very marked, which may cause flood risks threatening in some regions. In this work, we present an analysis of GHG emissions as the main culprit in the phenomenon of climate change in Algeria compared to other countries. We analysis as well the national strategy to reduce GHG emissions and its plans of mitigation, adaptation, and the implementation of the program of renewable energies development and energy efficiency, whose offer a great potential for GHG mitigation. The analyses of data of temperature and rainfall from 2009 to 2018 show a clear tendency towards decreasing rainfall and increasing average temperatures in north and south of Algeria. Keywords: CO2 emissions, climate change, renewable energy, economic growth, Algeria. 1 Introduction1 Celsius than it was in the period between 1850 and 1900. The industrial development taking place in the world, This period is commonly referred to as the "pre-industrial" which started early in the last century at the beginning of average [2]. Global warming primarily caused by increases the industrial revolution, led to a strong spread of factories, in “greenhouse” gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), urbanisms, and a large number of used cars in the world, Nitrous oxide (NOX), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Hydrogen which are considered as important sources of emissions of etc.,. A warming planet thus leads to global climate greenhouse gases, in reason of the considerable volume of changes which can adversely affect weather in different fuel which it consumes globally. Vehicular pollution in ways; it has ever had remarkable effects on the earth. only India is estimated to have increased eight times Glaciers have retract, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up through the last two decades. This source alone is estimated earlier, plant and animal areas have disappeared and trees to contribute about 70 per cent to the total air pollution. The are flowering sooner [3]. U.S., China, Russia, Japan and India are the first countries Geographically, Algeria belongs to the hot-hyper-arid in contribution to world carbon emissions [3]. Global lands, where its large part belongs to the Mediterranean carbon emissions is predicted to increase in the coming basin [6]. It is considered as a hot spot, highly vulnerable to years due to the fast pace of urbanization, change from non- global climate change and should therefore be protected commercial to commercial fuels, increased vehicular usage [7]. Thence, the query of climate change is became more and continued use of older and more inefficient coal-fired and more important and a new big challenge [5]. Therefore, and fuel power-plants [4]. Algeria is participated to several global events and it is a Therefore, the temperatures have been going up around member of most international organizations in the context the world for many decades, which produces the shift in of struggling to reduce climate change and environment worldwide weather phenomena associated with an increase prevents. Algeria, ratified in April 1993, the United Nations in global average temperatures. This has been termed Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), climate change [1]. Authoritative temperature registration and the Kyoto Protocol in 2005, and totally supports their started in 1850. The earth became now hotter one degree commitments regarding to the stabilizing emissions of greenhouse gases to prohibit anthropogenic interference with the climate system. It has presented its willingness to Corresponding author: Abdelkarim Mellah, Centre de take part in the international effort against climate change recherche scientifique et technique sur les régions arides, and its potential impacts on water resources, natural CRSTRA, Biskra.e-mail: [email protected]. ecosystems and the sustainability of economic development 306 Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 306-315 [5]. in the first by China with 9680 Mt CO2 (million tons of In the present work we highlighted the impact of the CO2), which is equivalent of 27% of CO2 globally emitted, climate change on the temperature and the precipitation in followed by USA with 5561 Mt CO2 equivalent of 15%, Algeria. The aspects of this research are also being studied European Union with 28 countries with 9%, India by 2597 particularly the Algerian government policy, and their ways Mt CO2 equivalent of 7%. Only these four countries of adaptation and mitigation of GHG emissions. We as well account 59% of the world issue. Africa (1295 Mt CO2) present the nationals plans of reduce energy consumption in represents only 3.6% of the world emission in 2017 (Figure order to minimize GHG emissions without restrictive or 1). Global carbon dioxide emissions in Algeria has been menacing the economic growth of the country. increasing in the last years, in which reached a value of 147 Mt CO2 in 2017 against 143 Mt CO2 in 2016, an increase of 2 Each country's share of CO2 emissions 2.8%. In terms of per capita emissions, the report records The world’s countries emit vastly different amounts of 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per person per year in 2017 compared heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. The Figure 1 with 3.7 tonnes of CO2 per person per year in 2016. Algeria shows data compiled by the International Energy Agency ranks 33rd in the world, third in Africa after South Africa (IEA), which estimates carbon dioxide emissions from the with 476 Mt CO2) and Egypt with 237 Mt CO2, 6th in the combustion of coal, natural gas, oil and other fuels, MENA region, but represents only 0.41% of the world including industrial waste and non-renewable municipal emission in 2017 against 0.36% in 2016. waste for the most CO2 emitted countries in 2017 [8]. The population list of the 13 countries that emitted the most 3 Evolution of CO2 and GHG in Algeria carbon dioxide in 2017 is presented in the Table 1: 3.1 Evolution of CO2 The CO2 measured by the Global Atmosphere Watch Table 1: Population list of 13 countries contributing highest (GAW) in station of Assekrem in Tamanrasset in the CO2 [9] extreme south of Algeria (altitude: 2710 m) has been Countries Population growing in the period of 1960 to 2020 (projection) as China 1418844155 shown in the Figure 2. Actually Algeria is classified as one US 328526823 of the most important CO2 emitters among African and India 1365161306 developing countries [5]. The quantity of CO2 emitted in Algeria 42514256 2018 was reaching 161000 Mt CO2, in which Algeria was Russia 143911107 being 34th in the fossil fuel emissions world ranking of Japan 126934043 countries [10]. CO2 was growing steadily from 360 ppm in Germany 82406902 1995 to 385 ppm in 2008, showing an annual increase of Iran 82624355 about 2 ppm / year, and it measures today no less than 392 Saudi Arabia 33991991 ppm [5]. South Africa 57900691 Nevertheless, Algeria is facing to a very complicated Egypt 100726281 task; the first is to meet the targets set in its INDC [12] and South Korea 51296416 the second to improve its economy [13]. Algerian economy Canada 37199710 is characterized by its high dependence on fossil fuel 30 12000 exports. According to the CIA World Factbook, Algeria is classified the sixth largest gas exporter in the world, and oil 25 10000 formed more than 97% of all Algeria exports in 2013 [14]. This economy is characterized by a poorly diversified 20 8000 production as well [15]. In addition, Algeria's total final consumption (TFC) has 15 6000 been steadily increasing in recent years in reason of industrialization and modernization of its economic sectors. 10 4000 Therefore, this high consumption has been leading up to increase of consumed energy resulted principally from oil 5 2000 and gas, which consequently increases the CO2 emissions [16],[17]. In 2013, the energy consumption was reached a 0 0 value of 38,543 ktoe higher than 31,500 ktoe registered in 2010 [17], which indicate an increase of 22% in just three years. Taking a closer look at various sectors, the residential sector (including agriculture) consumes the most energy with 43%, followed by the transport sector with Total CO2 (%) Total CO2 yearly release (million tonnes) 36% and the industry sector by 21% as shown in the Table Figure 1: Country's share of CO2 Emissions [8] 2. The largest carbon emitters in the world are classified 307 Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques 2019, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages: 306-315 180000 60 160000 50 140000 40 30 120000 20 100000 10 80000 0 60000 -10 40000 -20 20000 -30 0 -40 Variations (%) Values of CO2 emissions (metric tons) Figure 2: CO2 emissions in Algeria in the period 1960–2020 [11] Figure 3: Quantity of CO2 emitted by sectors in Algeria in 2008, 2012 and 2016 [18] Given its importance, many studies have examined the emissions consumption [19].