International Law

IEA 2011 CO2 numbers

By Karl-Friedrich Lenz

The IEA has released the numbers for 2011 CO2 emissions.

World emissions were up to 31.6 Gigatonnes, which is an increase of 3.2 percent over 2010 levels.

Japan has increased emissions by 2.4 percent (28 Megatonnes). These 28 Megatonnes are slightly less than 0.1 percent of the World emissions. The IEA blames “a substantial increase in the use of fossil fuel for power generation.”

If you are opposed to nuclear power, this is one more reason to go ahead full speed with the deployment of renewable energy, including large scale desert projects.

If you still think that nuclear has a future in Japan, this shows that nuclear is farther away than ever from solving the climate crisis without the help of renewable energy, so this report is one more reason to go ahead full speed with the deployment of renewable energy, including large scale desert projects.

The biggest increase comes from the leading CO2 emitter, China, and most of that comes from coal. China has emitted 720 Megatonnes more than 2010, an increase of 9.3 percent, most of it from increased coal use.

I recall that one of the strategic advantages of a large scale renewable energy project in the Mongolian Gobi desert would be the fact that if would help displace coal where that help is most needed.

Full post as published by Lenz Blog on May 26, 2012 (boomark / email).