Carbon in Oil, Gas and Coal Reserves Compared with Historic Fossil Fuel Carbon
Emissions (in gigatonnes)
Figure SPM.2: Carbon in oil, gas and coal reserves and resources
compared with historic fossil fuel carbon emissions 1860–1998, and with cumulative
carbon emissions from a range of SRES scenarios and TAR stabilization scenarios up until
2100. Data for reserves and resources are shown in the left hand columns (Section
3.8.2). Unconventional oil and gas includes tar sands, shale oil, other heavy oil, coal
bed methane, deep geopressured gas, gas in acquifers, etc. Gas hydrates (clathrates)
that amount to an estimated 12,000GtC are not shown. The scenario columns show both SRES
reference scenarios as well as scenarios which lead to stabilization of CO2
concentrations at a range of levels. Note that if by 2100 cumulative emissions
associated with SRES scenarios are equal to or smaller than those for stabilization
scenarios, this does not imply that these scenarios equally lead to stabilization.
Source & ©
IPCC TAR SPM of WG III 
Related publication:
Other Figures & Tables on this publication:
Adaptive Capacity, Vulnerability, and Key Concerns by Region
Facts on environmental matters
Table SPM.1 Estimates of potential global greenhouse gas emission reductions in 2010 and in 2020
The Emissions Scenarios from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES)
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Footnotes for the Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Working Group III
Footnotes for Table 1 of IPCC SPM WG II
Footnotes for the Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Working Group 1
Footnotes for the Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Working Group II
Variations of the Earth's surface temperature for :
Indicators of the human influence on the atmosphere during the Industrial Era
The global mean radiative forcing of the climate system for the year 2000,
relative to 1750
Simulated annual global mean surface temperatures
The global climate of the 21st Century
Documented Climate Change Impacts
Figure SPM-2 - Reasons for Concern
Figure SPM-3 - Projected Changes in Annual Runoff
Carbon in Oil, Gas and Coal Reserves Compared with Historic Fossil Fuel Carbon
Emissions (in gigatonnes)
Footnotes to Table SPM-1 (Question 6.2.2)
Figure 8.1 Precipitation
Figure 8.2 Hurricanes
Schematic of observed variations of the temperature
indicators / the hydrological and
storm-related indicators
Many external factors force climate change
The annual mean change of the temperature (colour shading) and its range (isolines)
Analysis of inter-model consistency in regional relative warming
GCRIO
UNFCCC
Pew Climate
NCDC
Climate Ark
Climatic Research Unit
CICERO
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
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