2013 Global CO2 Emission Continues In Raising!

According to new figures from Global Carbon Project 2013 global CO2 emission will set a record high again. CO2 released from fossil fuel burning and cement production has increased 2.1% in 2012, reaching a total of 35.3 billion tonnes emitted to the atmosphere, which is 58% increase compared to 1990 emissions (the carbon emission baseline reference of Kyoto Protocol). CO2 emission is projected to increase by another 2.1% this year, making a total CO2 emission to reach 36 billion tonnes, which is 61% above 1990 emission.

The 2.1% rise in 2012 emission was lower than the predicted value of 2.6%, mainly due to the slower economic growth in China, as commented by Roisin Moriarty from University of East Anglia’s Tyndall Center for Climate Research.

In 2012 most emissions were from coal (43%), oil (33%), gas (18%), cement (5.3%) and gas flaring (0.6%). The growth in coal itself  was accounted for 54% of the total growth in fossil fuel emissions.

CO2 emissions from deforestation and other land-use change added 8% to the emissions from burning fossil fuels. Cumulative emissions of CO2 since 1870 are set to reach 2015 billion tonnes in 2013 – with 70% caused by burning fossil fuels and 30% from deforestation and other land-use changes.

In a statement, Prof Pierre Friedlingstein from the University of Exeter said: "We have exhausted about 70% of the cumulative emissions that keep global climate change likely below 2 degrees. In terms of CO2 emissions, we are following the highest climate change scenario of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released in September."