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Global emissions of carbon dioxide reached a record high in 2012: 34.5 billion tonnes.
But there’s some good news too. According to a new report by the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency, the rate at which CO2 emissions are rising has slowed to 1.1% – less than half the average annual increase of 2.9% over the last decade.
“This development signals a shift towards less fossil-fuel-intensive activities, more use of renewable energy and increased energy saving,” the report reads.
The relatively small emissions increase in 2012 “may be the first sign of a more permanent slowdown” and possibly an eventual decline.
Total CO2 emissions by country | Image from the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency report | See more indicators here
However, a decline in global CO2 emissions is highly dependent on two things: China’s commitment to burn more natural gas, the US’s continued move toward gas and renewable energy and the EU’s progress in reducing actual emissions.
Currently, three regions account for 55% of total global CO2 emissions. China takes the lion’s share with 29%. The US and the European Union come in second and third, although these two decreased their emissions by 4 an 1.6% respectively over the past year.
While the report authors predict a growth in the usage of renewable energy and natural gas, they identify several factors that could upset this trend. Rising production of shale gas could affect natural gas prices, while a prolonged recession in the EU could make it more difficult for the region to meet its emission reduction targets.
See the full report here.
3 Comments
ac
Funny the denie we see here, it’s increase but in a less amount so it’s good. It’s already too high so that’s a B.S article.
SUNNY
This is a crock, as is a previous article on how the wet weather in Europe in due to the reduction of the surface ice in the Arctic, when in 2012 it was at its least extent. The Arctic ice this year is 60 % more than last year and the Antarctic sea ice is at its greatest extent recorded. No surprise to me, as the SUN’s current cycle 24 is at its lowest peak since the Dalton minimum, and we are heading for at least 11 years of very cold weather….if not longer. Due to this overall cooling CO2 will get fixed.
The article on CO2 reducing is pure propaganda, so that down the road it can be stated …look we reduced CO2 and the temperature is deceasing. The changing climate is a fact of life since the planet earth was formed. In the last 450,000 years the overall temperature has been decreasing. It has during this period been predominantly glacial. We are currently in an interglacial phase, but perhaps not for long if the sun has its way, and no increase in CO2 will change that.
The thing that annoys me is how non-scientist big mouths like AL Gore can convince people and the American government otherwise and make $billions on carbon credit scams.
Mike Failla
More leftist baloney! Its all fred flintstone and barney rubbles fault! As sunny said, “its a crock”!