Record carbon dioxide emissions highlight climate change risks
By Dan Brennan
Global carbon dioxide emissions reached new and dangerous heights last year, according to a new assessment by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The data highlights the danger of extreme climate change, with devastating environmental, economic and social consequences.
The IEA estimated worldwide levels at 30.6 billion tons in 2010, exceeding the previous record set in 2008 by 5 percent. Growth in emissions of the heat trapping gas resumed last year after a slight decrease in 2009, as the global economic crisis triggered a drop off in energy use.
The IEA analysis presented an emissions scenario in which scientists are reasonably confident that temperature increases will stabilize at around 2˚C, thereby limiting the most extreme impacts of climate change. According to this scenario, carbon dioxide emissions in 2020 must hold at or below 32 billion tons. However, if emissions in 2011 grow at an equal rate as last year, the scenario’s target for 2020 will already be surpassed nine years ahead of time.
Dr. Fatih Biral of the IEA explained their significance. “Our latest estimates are another wake-up call. The world has edged incredibly close to the level of emissions that should not be reached until 2020 if the 2˚C target is to be attained.” . . . (more)
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