The UN Says that Global Carbon Emissions are Growing, not Shrinking

[Tom Hitchcock]

According to a major new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, mankind is currently responsible for 49 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions a year, but it needs to reduce emissions to around 44Gt by the end of the decade if we are to stand a reasonable chance of avoiding temperature increases that go beyond the internationally agreed 2°C limit.

To stay on the 2°C pathway, emissions would then need to drop to 37Gt by 2030, which is roughly equivalent to 1990 levels, and then fall again to 21Gt by 2050.

However, UNEP says that based on current projections emissions are likely to reach 58Gt in eight years' time, leaving a gap of up to 14Gt; while even if countries meet their most ambitious stated emission targets. there will still be a gap of 8Gt.

Despite the dire situation, UNEP executive director Achim Steiner told reporters it is still technically and economically feasible to bridge the emissions gap through improvements in current processes and technologies. "There is great alarm and concern about where we are in 2012, but it is not a reason to write off a 2°C target," he said.

[Seabastian.Smith]

That last paragraph describing the remaining feasibility of reducing emissions and achieving the targets set seems to me to be added to give hope where hope does not exist. Perhaps it is possible, but probable? I think not!

Governments approach to climate change and reducing carbon emissions in almost every country around the world has been laughable. A token effort to keep Greenpeace quiet.

The problem is that politicians know that the public would rather have low energy bills than pay more to use energy that produces fewer carbon emissions.