The worlds drive to limit emissions and halt temperatures increases are likely to fail
The bleak statistics, compiled by the International Energy Agency (IEA), will prompt fears the world’s drive to limit emissions and halt temperatures increases are likely to fail.
Despite a high level push by governments to limit global warming, unprecedented levels of carbon were released into the air over the past 12 months, the unpublished figures have disclosed.
The IEA found a record 30.6 gigatons (Gt) of carbon dioxide gushed into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuel – a rise of 1.6Gt from the previous year.
The agency has calculated that annual emission should not exceed 32Gt by 2020 if the world is to escape the most damaging effects of global warming.
Experts said the figures, considered one of the most reliable measures of carbon emissions, showed that attempts to curb global warming were unlikely to succeed.
Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA chief economist, said this also meant the goal of preventing temperatures rising more than 2C – considered the threshold for potentially “dangerous climate change” – was likely to be just “a nice Utopia”.
The disclosures come ahead of a key United Nations talks, involving officials from more than 180 governments, who will attempt to thrash out a new deal on climate change.
The surprise figures also appear to contradict widespread opinion that the worst global recession since the Great Depression would help reduce emissions.
Despite emissions from energy falling slightly between 2008 and 2009, due to the financial crisis, the figures have since “strongly rebounded”.
Dr Birol admitted he was shocked by the disclosures, adding that the “room for manoeuvre is shrinking”.
“I am very worried. This is the worst news on emissions,” he told The Guardian.
“The prospect is getting bleaker. This should be a wake-up call.”
He suggested that emissions will likely rise even further due to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant following the Japanese earthquake and devastating tsunami.
“People may not like nuclear, but it is one of the major technologies for generating electricity without carbon dioxide,” he added.
Source: The Telegraph
