Researchers have warned that while their study suggests a possible decline, their projections are estimates and there will always be a range of uncertainty.
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According to Corinne Le Quere of the the University of East Anglia, U.K., this slowing of global emissions can be sustained depending on the usage of coal in China and in other nations or where new energy will originate.
“The projected decline (in emissions) is largely down to China’s decreased coal use, driven by its economic adjustment”, Le Quéré added. While advocates of greener living have long touted the economic benefits of replacing outdated fossil fuels with eco-friendly upgrades, the undeniable truth was that higher global emissions were linked to economic growth.
A new study presented at the UN Climate Change Conference reveals how for the first time ever, there will be a trend in declining levels of carbon dioxide emissions around the world. Associate Professor Cory Cleveland said plants are experiencing water stress due to climate change and a lack of carbon dioxide, resulting in lack of not just water, but nutrients, too. Its emissions growth slowed to 1.2 percent in 2014, which is expected to decline by around 4 percent in 2015.
The reduced coal consumption in China has been found to be the major contributor to the projected reduction in carbon emissions.
The report from the Global Carbon Project led by a Stanford University researcher identified China as the world’s top carbon dioxide emitter in 2014, responsible for 27 per cent of global emissions, followed by the United States (15.5 per cent), the European Union (9.5 per cent) and India (7.2 per cent).
As previously reported by Ship & Bunker, in the build up to COP21 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) urged world leaders to decide against the idea of an overall emissions cap for the shipping industry, saying “such measures would artificially limit the ability of shipping to meet the demand created by the world economy, or would unbalance the level playing field that the shipping industry needs for efficient operation”. From 2013 to 2014, more than 50 percent of the increase in its primary energy consumption was taken from non-fossil fuel sources. Already some 80% of the World’s carbon emissions carry a price through carbon trade or tax schemes, and thinking that SA can continue to have no price for carbon in our economy is unrealistic.
Greenpeace’s worldwide climate politics chief, Martin Kaiser, said this is not enough of a reason to celebrate or be complacent, as emissions have to come down fast in order to save the planet.
As these countries represent over half of the globe ” s total carbon emissions, it ” s a welcome sign that all posted decreases. China’s emissions are likely to rise again, but the Chinese government has pledged to hit the peak by 2030.
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2015 has been an extraordinary year, and not just because of China.
