21st Century's First Decade Saw Doubling of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: IPCC
21st Century's First Decade Saw Doubling of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: IPCC
Leaked draft of latest IPCC report obtained by Guardian sheds light on drastic gas emissions from coal-fired plant
- Jacob Chamberlain, staff writer
Greenhouse gas emissions grew in the first decade of the 21st century at a rate almost double that of the previous 30 years, despite the 2008 economic downturn, a leaked portion of the UN's International Panel on Climate Change's latest research reveals.
"Global GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions have risen more rapidly between 2000 and 2010," says the leaked portion of the the draft report obtained by the Guardian, adding, "Current GHG emissions trends are at the high end of projected levels for the last decade."
According to the report, the drastic upswing in emissions is largely due to an increased reliance on coal-fired power plants.
As Suzanne Goldenberg at the Guardian reports, there are over 1,000 new plants under construction around the world, with most arising in China and India. As the IPCC research highlights, those plants are largely supplying power for factories making goods for the U.S. and Europe.
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https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/04/11-5
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China plans to ban imports of coal with high-ash and high-sulfur content as the nation seeks to limit the dirtiest fuels to fight pollution.
The world’s largest coal consumer will encourage imports of higher-quality supplies, according to Ren Lixin, the head of the coal division at the National Energy Administration. Domestic demand for the fuel may rise “slightly” this year and imports are expected to be similar to 2013 levels, he said at a conference in Shanghai today.
China is considering a ban on imports of some lower-quality coal as the government sets an annual agenda to address record pollution. The NEA has drafted different versions of plans since last May. A previous draft proposed limiting imports of lignite with a heating value lower than 4,540 kilocalories per kilogram, more than 1 percent sulfur and ash higher than 25 percent.
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China imported a record 330 million metric tons of coal last year. Overseas purchases may fall this year as the nation tries to meet energy-saving targets, the China Coal Transport and Distribution Association said in December. The nation seeks to limit energy from coal at 65 percent this year, according to a government plan in January.
EDIT
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-04-10/china-plans-ban-on-imports-of-coal-with-high-ash-high-sulfur
