Scientists surprised by decline in global carbon emission

By Barry Eitel

SAN FRANCISCO

Researchers said Monday they believe global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels declined in 2015.

It represents the first time a decrease was recorded during a period of strong economic growth.

The drop in emissions surprised scientists and contrasted sharply to the accelerating growth of fossil fuel emissions, a key factor in global warming, in previous years.

Scientists at the Global Carbon Project attribute the lowered emissions to reduced coal use in nations such as China and see the results as strong evidence that human actions can have a noticeable effect on curbing climate change.

“In 2014, global CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels grew by just 0.6 percent,” lead author Rob Jackson, a professor of earth system science at Stanford University, said in a statement. “This year we expect total emissions to flatten or drop slightly, despite strong growth in gross domestic product worldwide.”

While emissions plateau during global economic recessions, this is the first time in modern times that emissions have dropped during a period of robust economic growth.

Researchers believe the new figures were caused by a decrease in China’s fossil fuel emissions paired with increased use worldwide of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

China remains the world’s biggest carbon dioxide emitter, releasing 27 percent of all global emissions in 2014.

The United States was responsible for 15.5 percent, the European Union released 9.5 percent and India was accountable for 7.2 percent.

The announcement Monday comes during the United Nations climate change summit in Paris, where 190 nations are attempting to reach an agreement about reduced emissions goals.

Researchers believes, however, that carbon emissions will have to reach zero in order to achieve climate stabilization.

“Reaching zero emissions will require long-term commitments from countries attending the climate meeting in Paris this week and beyond,” said Jackson.

The study was conducted by the Global Carbon Project and headed by scientists at Stanford University.

The findings were published in the journal Nature Climate Change.