This year, global carbon dioxide emissions increased by 1.1%, driven primarily by heightened pollution from China and India, according to a report by a team of scientists. Despite international efforts aiming to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030, carbon pollution continues to surge, reaching 36.8 billion metric tons in 2023, twice the annual amount four decades ago, as reported by the Global Carbon Project, a group of international scientists specialising in emissions tracking.
To keep global warming within the 1.5-degree target, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chairman, Jim Skea, emphasised the necessity of significant emission reductions. This year alone, activities such as fossil fuel combustion and cement production contributed to the release of the equivalent of 2.57 million pounds (1.17 million kilograms) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every second.
Notably, if China and India were excluded from the calculations, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement production would have seen a decline. The world witnessed an increase of 398 million metric tons in annual emissions, concentrated mainly in China, India, and aviation. Specifically, China’s fossil fuel emissions rose by 458 million metric tons compared to the previous year, while India’s increased by 233 million metric tons.
In contrast, emissions outside of China and India exhibited a decrease of 419 million metric tons, led by Europe’s notable reduction of 205 million metric tons (8%). This reduction was comprehensive, encompassing decreases in coal, oil, gas, and cement emissions. As reported by ETEnergyworld.com, the United States also contributed to the global reduction, with a decrease of 154 million metric tons, primarily attributed to a substantial decline in coal emissions, alongside slight increases in oil and gas emissions.
