Global carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels set a record level in 2012, driven largely by rising demand in China and Japan's decision to phase out nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency. (U.S. emissions declined 3.8 percent, Europe by 1.4 percent.)
This prompted the IEA's chief economist, Fatih Birol, to warn that the planet risks eclipsing a goal of containing global temperature increase to 3.6 degrees F above pre-industrial levels. This is regarded as a safety limit beyond which global warming is likely to become catastrophic.
Birol said the world risks hitting a temperature increase of 9 degrees F if it chooses to wait for a new climate treaty. Intead, he said, nations must take action now to control carbon emissions.
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