Man-made emissions still on rise
The Age
Wednesday November 18, 2009
MAN-MADE greenhouse gas emissions continued to climb last year, reflecting an expanding reliance on coal and a continuing demand for manufactured goods produced in developing countries.Despite the financial crisis, emissions from fossils fuels were up 2 per cent €” part of a 29 per cent increase this decade. Coal has overtaken oil as the largest source of fossil fuel emissions, reversing a 40-year trend.A global assessment of carbon dioxide trends published in the journal Nature Geoscience found the expected dip in emissions due to the crisis would show up in 2009 figures. CSIRO research scientist Michael Raupach said on current projections it would be a brief reprieve €” equivalent to the world stopping burning fossil fuels for six weeks. "It hasn't bought us much time at all," said Dr Raupach, one of 31 co-authors of the paper.A significant part of the rapid emissions growth in developing countries is linked to international trade. Half the massive emissions growth in China €” the world's largest emitter €” is due to export-related industries.While energy emissions remain tied to economic patterns, those from deforestation appear to have stabilised. Destruction of mainly tropical forests is estimated to now account for just 12 per cent of emissions, down from 18 per cent.The study also found a continuing decline in the earth and the ocean's capacity to naturally absorb human carbon dioxide emissions. "There are signs that for the last 50 years the land and ocean sinks have been gradually losing the race with rapidly rising emissions. They are vulnerable to weakening as climate change alters the planet," Dr Raupach said.
© 2009 The Age
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