- In about nine years, the world is on track to exceed the maximum amount of CO2 it can burn to keep temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees, a new report says.
- Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the Earth’s temperature has already risen by 1.1°C.
- Total fossil carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase by about 1% in 2022.
The world is increasingly agreeing that climate change is real, dangerous and dangerous happening now – but this has not yet translated into a global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Total fossil carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase by about 1% in 2022. November report by the Global Carbon Project, published in Earth System Science Data found. He is released in Egypt COP27 global climate change meeting.
The report projects that a record amount of carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere this year: 36.6 billion tons from burning coal, oil and natural gas.
At this rate, within nine years the world is on track to exceed the maximum amount of CO2 it can burn to keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s a reminder that despite all this rhetoric, global residual CO2 emissions are more than 5% higher than in 2015, when the Paris Agreement was signed,” said Glenn Peters, research director at the International Center for Climate Research.
Here’s what you need to know:
Why are carbon dioxide emissions still rising?
The world is working to convert to carbon-free energy sources such as wind, solar and nuclear, but it is not moving fast enough to meet growing energy demands.
Why should CO2 emissions be reduced?
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmosphere. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the earth’s temperature has already risen by 2 degrees.
In order to prevent catastrophic climate effects, this increase must remain below 2.7 degrees, a number of world countries – including United States – agreed. The Global Carbon Project estimates that if CO2 emissions continue at this year’s levels, the world will likely use up its “carbon budget” by 2032.
Which countries emit the most?
Three countries account for the lion’s share of global CO2 emissions. China is the highest at 32%, although this has started to decline slightly. The United States is next with 14%, an increase of 1.5% compared to last year. India’s emissions continue to rise and currently account for 8% of the global total. The 27 countries of the European Union together make up 8%.
China’s emissions are falling
For the first time since the economic slowdown in 2015-2016, China’s CO2 emissions were expected to fall to just under 1% in 2022. This happens for two reasons:
- China’s economy has been hit hard by the country’s strict COVID-19 lockdown policy, which has affected growth.
- China’s renewable energy sector is developing rapidly. In 2022, for the first time, wind and solar produced more than 10% of the country’s electricity.
The US promises significant methane
At the COP27 event in Egypt, the United States announced on Friday that it would quickly deal with oil and gas companies methane leaks, a powerful greenhouse gas that traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and is responsible for a third of the warming caused by greenhouse gases today. Since it only has 20 years left in the atmosphere, cutting methane leaks now will have an immediate impact on preventing warming.
