DOE OSTI · 1015075
Update on CO2 emissions
Abstract
Emissions of CO2 are the main contributor to anthropogenic climate change. Here we present updated information on their present and near-future estimates. We calculate that global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning decreased by 1.3% in 2009 owing to the global financial and economic crisis that started in 2008; this is half the decrease anticipated a year ago1. If economic growth proceeds as expected2, emissions are projected to increase by more than 3% in 2010, approaching the high emissions growth rates that were observed from 2000 to 20081, 3, 4. We estimate that recent CO2 emissions from deforestation and other land-use changes (LUCs) have declined compared with the 1990s, primarily because of reduced rates of deforestation in the tropics5 and a smaller contribution owing to forest regrowth elsewhere.
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Friedingstein, P, Houghton, R A, Marland, Gregg, Hackler, J, Boden, Thomas A, Conway, T J, Canadell, J G, Raupach, Mike, Ciais, Philippe, Le Quere, Corrine. 2010-12-01. Update on CO2 emissions. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1022
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