Global CO2 Emissions Rise after Paris Climate Agreement Signed

[Dashinka 24,810]

 

 

Emissions climbed in Asia and Europe, but declined in the U.S.

Global carbon dioxide emissions surged to record levels the year after the landmark 2016 Paris climate agreement was signed.

Energy-related emissions climbed 1.4 percent to 32.5 gigatons in 2017, the International Energy Agency reported yesterday in its annual survey of global carbon levels. The increase is the equivalent of adding 170 million cars to the road, the agency said.

The uptick—coming on the heels of the major international climate deal—signals an abrupt end to several years of stagnant emissions growth and raises questions about the world’s commitment to reducing carbon levels.

 

“It’s not good news,” said Rachel Cleetus, policy director for the climate and energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “It certainly is a sign that we have a great deal of work to do to meet the commitments that countries made in Paris to limit emissions and the harmful effects of climate change.”

Asia accounted for two-thirds of the increase in global carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions also climbed in the European Union.

Those increases stood in contrast to the United States, which posted the largest year-over-year decline in carbon emissions of any advanced economy. The decline was all the more notable given President Trump’s outspoken opposition to global attempts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and his plans to withdraw from the Paris deal.

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-co2-emissions-rise-after-paris-climate-agreement-signed/

 

 

[jg121783 3,921]

Good news for all the co2 breathing plants on Earth which in turn is good news for the oxygen breathing animals on Earth.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

1 hour ago, jg121783 said:

Good news for all the co2 breathing plants on Earth which in turn is good news for the oxygen breathing animals on Earth.

 

  It would be better news if many of those CO2 breathing plant's hadn't been lost to deforestation. The reason atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing is because the natural buffers the earth has can't keep up with the amount of CO2 being released. Adding more CO2 doesn't make that situation better.

 

   It's not a difficult concept. This came up on my son's grade 3 field trip recently and 8 year old's seem to be able to grasp this intuitively. I'm not sure why adults have difficulty sometimes. Cognitive dissonance maybe?

[Dashinka 24,810]

I just think it is interesting that the country that pulled out of Paris is the one leading the way in cutting its CO2.