\'we are in deep trouble\': greenhouse gas emissions reached ... - solar energy traffic lights

Global energy experts released grim findings on Monday, saying not only the Earthwarming carbon-
Carbon dioxide emissions are still increasing, but the world's growing demand for energy has led to an increase in coal emissions.
Than ever before.
Global energy demand growth 2.
According to the report of the International Energy Agency, 3% in the past year, this is the fastest growing year in ten years.
In order to meet this demand, countries have turned to various sources of energy, including renewable energy, mainly driven by a booming economy.
But nothing can fill the gap like fossil fuels, which, according to the agency's analysis of energy trends on behalf of 30 Member States, account for nearly 70% of soaring demand for electricity, including the United States.
In particular, a relatively new batch of coal-fired power plants in Asia have continued to live for decades, leading the record of coal emissions --
Thermal Power Plant-
The agency said carbon dioxide "exceeded 10 billion tons for the first time.
The agency found that in Asia, "the average factory is only 12 years old, decades younger than the average economic life of about 40 years . ".
As a result, greenhouse-
Gas emissions from using energy
Their biggest source so far
The surge in 2018 reached a record high of 33. 1 billion tons.
Emissions show 1.
Growth of 7%
Above the average since 2010.
The agency found that the growth in global emissions in 2018 alone was "equivalent to the total emissions of international aviation ".
A disturbing fact was highlighted in Monday's report: Despite the rapid development of renewable energy, many countries --
Including the United States and China
However, fossil fuels are still being turned to meet growing demand.
Demand for energy is growing.
"Very worrying" is how Michael Mehling, deputy director of the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, described the results of Monday's study.
He said in an email: "For me, all of this reflects the fact that despite some limited progress, global climate policy is still far from enough.
"They are not even enough to offset the increase in emissions from economic expansion, especially in the developing world, not to mention stimulating CO2 at levels commensurate with the temperature stabilization targets we promised under the Paris agreement.
Mehling questioned whether the Paris climate agreement
The 2015 global agreement that countries have vowed to cut carbon emissions has the ability to force countries to meet their commitments and increase climate action over time.
"This will need to overcome the persistent obstacles that have hindered greater progress in the past," Mehling said . ".
As the agency report clearly states, it is complex to overcome these obstacles.
For example, China met demand for more energy last year through a new generation of renewable energy products.
But China is more dependent on natural gas, coal and oil.
In India, about half of the new demand is also met by coal.
Thermal power plant.
By contrast, coal production in the United States is declining.
But much of the country's growth in energy demand is driven by the burning of natural gas rather than renewable energy.
Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide than coal does when it burns, but it is still a fossil fuel and still causes a lot of emissions.
There is some good news in the new report: With the growth of renewable energy and natural gas, the share of coal in energy use is getting smaller and smaller.
However, the fact that it is still growing strongly contradicts what scientists say is needed to curb global warming.
In an important report last yearN.
The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change found that in order to keep the planet warming to 1, global emissions will have to be reduced by nearly half by 2030.
5 degrees Celsius (or 2.
7 degrees Fahrenheit).
This will require emissions to be reduced at an extremely fast rate every year.
However, the world has hit a record high.
In terms of coal use, the same report found that the temperature was limited to 1.
5 degrees Celsius, it will have to drop 78% in just 10 years.
Rob Jackson, a professor of earth systems science at Stanford University, said the substantial growth in wind and solar energy detailed in Monday's report was overshadowed by the world's continued dependence on fossil fuels.
"Fossil growth is still greater than renewable energy growth," Jackson said . " He added that few countries have fulfilled their commitments as part of the Paris climate accord.
"What is frustrating is the emissions of the United States. S.
Europe is also rising.
In order for us to have any hope of meeting the Paris commitments, there is a need for a significant reduction in emissions.
"Earlier, new results showed that global emissions could be flat and start to fall.
Coal emissions fell slightly from 2014 to 2016.
But with the recovery of economic growth in 2017 and a record high in 2018, the turning point in the emissions problem remains unseen.
As a result, optimism has largely subsided earlier this decade.
International efforts to tackle climate change have been difficult to maintain momentum. S.
The government's priorities have been reversed.
"We are in trouble," Jackson said of Monday's findings . ".
"The climate consequences are disastrous.
I don't use such words very often.
But we are heading towards disaster and no one seems to be able to slow down.