Full extent of global coal 'binge' is hidden, say researchers (BBC)

By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News

The climate impacts of the world's fossil-fuelled power plants are being underestimated because of poor accounting, say researchers.

Governments would get a truer picture if they included the lifetime emissions of a facility in the year it goes into production

These "committed emissions" have been growing by 4% a year between 2000 and 2012, the scientists say.

Power plants in China and India alone account for half of this commitment.

At present, UN accounting procedures only include the emissions from coal and gas powered electricity generation in the year in which they occur.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28942403