Carbon Emissions Show Sharp Rise



by Richard Black BBC



The rise in humanity's emissions of carbon dioxide has accelerated sharply, according to a new analysis.



The trend towards increased energy efficiency is levelling off.



The Global Carbon Project says that emissions were rising by less than 1% annually up to the year 2000, but are now rising at 2.5% per year.



It says the acceleration comes mainly from a rise in charcoal consumption and a lack of new energy efficiency gains.



The global research network released its latest analysis at a scientific meeting in Australia.



Dr Mike Rapauch of the Australian government's research organisation CSIRO, who co-chairs the Global Carbon Project, told delegates that 7.9 billion tonnes (gigatonnes, Gt) of carbon passed into the atmosphere last year. In 2000, the figure was 6.8Gt.



"From 2000 to 2005, the growth rate of carbon dioxide emissions was more than 2.5% per year, whereas in the 1990s it was less than 1% per year," he said.



The finding parallels figures released earlier this month by the World Meteorological Organization showing that the rise in atmospheric concentrations of CO2 had accelerated in the last few years.



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