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Global CO2 emissions are rising again after just one year of decline. Worldwide carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions this year will increase more than 3 percent from last year to the highest level ever due to rapid growth in emerging economies. The increase will follow the first decrease in a decade in the world's overall CO2 emissions last year. The UK emitted 8.6% less CO2 in 2009 than a year earlier, Japan emitted 11.8 percent less CO2 and the United States 6.9 percent less, while emissions by China and India rose 8% percent and 6% last year, respectively. Under the Copenhagen Accord, signed at the end of 2009, 80 countries promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. But, even if every target is met, it will deliver less than 2/3 of the reductions needed to stop global temperatures rising by more than 2 degrees (ice caps melting etc).
What this means according to Achim Steinberger, the UN's top Environment chap is 'mutually assured destruction if we do not act now'. The gap between the pledges and what is needed is 'equivalent to taking all the vehicles in the world off the road'. Wake up everyone.
What this means according to Achim Steinberger, the UN's top Environment chap is 'mutually assured destruction if we do not act now'. The gap between the pledges and what is needed is 'equivalent to taking all the vehicles in the world off the road'. Wake up everyone.
