Global CO2 emissions in 2012 grew by 1.1% while the world economy expanded by 3.5%

PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) released an annual report Trends in global CO2 emissions.  According to the report global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) increased 1.1% to reach a new record of 34.5 billion tonnes in 2012.  The report points our that this increase in global CO2 emissions is significantly less less than half the average annual increase of 2.9% over the last decade and it occurred at the same time that the global economy grew by 3.5%.. This is remarkable, as the global economy grew by 3.5%.

This report suggests that  this is the result of reduced carbon intensity, more use of renewable energy and increased energy conservation.  In 2012 fossil-fuel combustion increased by 2.2% for natural gas, 0.9% for oil products, and 0.6% for coal.

U.S. CO2 emissions (16% share) decreased by 4% because of a continuing shift from coal to gas in electric power generation. E.U.  emissions (11% share) decreased by 1.6%, mainly due to a decrease in energy consumption (oil and gas) and a decrease in road freight transport.  China's emissions (29% share) increased by 3%, which is low compared with an average10% increase over the last decade.

For comparison according to a recent IEA report, global energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 1.4% to reach a high of 31.6 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2012.