Final answer:
Calculating the amount of CO₂ emissions in various sectors reveals agriculture contributing significantly, particularly livestock farming. The transportation sector is a major emitter, predominantly from personal vehicle use. Coal is the largest CO₂ contributor in electricity production due to its carbon intensity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating CO₂ Emissions in Different Sectors
The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with various sectors such as food/agriculture, transportation, and electricity significantly impact our global climate. In the food/agricultural sector, emissions have been rising, and agriculture accounts for approximately 10 to 12 percent of global emissions. Livestock farming, particularly for meat production, is a major contributor, releasing more greenhouse gases than the total emissions from all forms of transportation.
Speaking of transportation, this sector was responsible for over a quarter of the United States' emissions in 2018, with more than half of it coming from personal vehicles such as passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Mitigation strategies in this sector include transitioning to low-carbon fuels, increasing fuel efficiency, and implementing urban planning that reduces the need for travel. Electricity production, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil, is another major source, with coal being the dominant producer of CO₂ emissions due to its higher carbon intensity compared to other energy sources.