Down to Earth Blog

Two Reports Paint Dim Picture, Underscore Need for Action:  The U.S. government reported May 21 that "global emissions of the main gas scientists link to global warming will rise 59 percent from 2004 to 2030," according to a Reuters story about the U.S. Energy Information Administration's annual International Energy Outlook. 

Much of the increase will come from China and other developing nations, although U.S. emissions will also rise. The percentage of total CO2 emissions from plants that burn coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, will rise from 39 percent in 2004 to 43 percent by 2030.

In the U.S. EIA's press release, they also note that coal is the fastest-growing energy source worldwide. Not a good sign -- and one that is probably directly connected to ...

... Another new report about how global carbon dioxide emissions are growing at a faster rate than they did in the 1990s. A paper published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences notes that "Between 2000 and 2004, worldwide CO₂ emissions increased at a rate that is over three times the rate during the 1990s—the rate increased from 1.1 % per year during the 1990s to 3.1% per year in the early 2000s."

A Reuters story from Australia explained that accelerating increase of carbon dioxide is due to rapid economic growth.

Both of the new reports indicate that the trends look bad -- for emissions and global warming. It's yet more evidence that we need to make some changes -- maybe first by reducing the total emissions from coal plants and instead investing in renewable energy plants.

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• #2 Comment from abcquilts007 
  5/23/07 10:36 AM | Permalink

  who ruins more lives than any Fossil fuel....Psychologist and psychiatrist that have a private practice. They always want to control YOUR life, but have no controls on their own behaviors. They are given more power to destroy lives than any law would permit the average person. Their word is taken  and used as a means to extract a living wage from people who been coerced to believe that Psychologist have more rights to control other peoples lives than anyone else.These so called educated Professional actually ruin lives because  many are just as dysfunctional as the average person. Many get into this business trying to understand their own parents and their own behaviors; who are also dysfunctional and becasue of this many lives are ruin!!
• #1 Comment from dpr1942364 
  5/22/07 8:02 PM | Permalink

  i think all you environmentalistare a bunc of IDIOTS if you think coal burning power plants will cut down global warming you are even bigger IDIOTS i grew up in the 1930-40 in a coal burning state INDIANA i know about coal the only way to stop G.WARMING is to build NUKE POWER PLANTS NOW  NOW NOW why don't you IDIOTS LISTEN to DR.WANTABERGR ON KGO 810 he does know what he is talking he has you IDIOT beat all to hell
  
      DAVID L PRUDEN USN RETIRED