Global carbon emissions last year exceeded worst-case scenario predictions from just four years before, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE).
A rise of six percent (564 million additional tons) over 2009 levels was largely driven by three nations: the US, India, and China. Emissions from burning coal jumped eight percent overall. The new data, supported by a similar report from International Energy Agency, makes it even more difficult for nations to make good on a previous pledge to hold back the world from warming over 2 degrees Celsius. According to the DOE’s data, China made up nearly a quarter of global emissions, while the US comprised 16.4 percent and India 6.2 percent. However, the data only includes carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and cement, and does not include other major sources of greenhouse gases such as deforestation and land-use changes. By themselves, China and the US accounted for half of the global rise in carbon emissions. Other nations that saw emission rises included Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, Poland and Kazakhstan. Overall Europe saw moderate growth in emissions. Some countries, however, lowered their emissions from 2009 to 2010, including Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Spain, New Zealand and Pakistan. One thing to remember is that both China and the U.S. did not sign the Kyoto Protocol to curb their greenhouse emissions. Both countries need to become signatory sponsors at the next global climate talks, which takes place in one month in South Africa.
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