Global CO2 emissions in 2012 reached a record

Global carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) emissions are rising again in 2012, reaching a record high of 35.6 billion tons - according to new data from the Global Carbon Project, co-led by Researchers from Tyndall Climate Change Research Center at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

The forecast increase of 2.6% for 2012 means that global emissions from fossil fuel burning are 58% above 1990 levels, the base year for the Kyoto Protocol.

This latest analysis conducted by the Global Carbon Project was published on December 2 in the Nature Climate Change magazine with complete data released simultaneously in Earth System Science Data Discussions.

This analysis shows that the top countries in contributing to global emissions in 2011 are China (28%), the US (16%), the European Union (11%), and India (7 %).

Emissions in China and India increased 9.9 and 7.5% in 2011, while US and European Union emissions decreased by 1.8 and 2.8%, respectively.

China's emissions per capita are 6.6 tons of CO2, which is equal to that of the European Union (7.3), but still lower than that of the United States (17.2 tons). /people). Emissions in India were lower at 1.8 tons of carbon per person.

Professor Corinne Le Quéré, director of Tyndall Climate Change Research Center and a UEA professor, said: "The latest figures in the context of climate negotiations in Doha. However, with emissions continue to increase, that is if no one is listening to the entire scientific community ".

The 2012 increase continues to open up the gap between actual emissions and the requirements to keep global warming lower than the international target of two degrees.

"I am worried that the risks of dangerous climate change are too high on our current emission trajectory, we need a thorough plan , " said Professor Corinne Le Quéré.

Analyzes published in Nature Climate Change show that significant emission reductions are needed by 2020 to keep the two-degree increase a viable goal.

It shows that the previous energy transition in Belgium, Denmark, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom had to lead to the highest emission reduction of 5% per year over decades, even lack of policy. about the climate.