According to the Global Carbon Budget report, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are predicted to reach a record high of 36.8 billion metric tons in 2023. This indicates an alarming 1.1% increase from the previous year. The report raises serious concerns about the impact of current CO2 emissions levels. If these levels persist, the remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C could be depleted in just seven years. Similarly, the carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.7°C may run out in 15 years.
Notably, the trends in carbon emissions vary greatly by region. Increases have been observed in India and China, with a rise of 8.2% and 4.0% respectively. On the contrary, Europe and the US have seen decreases of 7.4% and 3.0% respectively. A slight decrease of 0.4% was also noted in the rest of the world.
These regional trends were influenced by several factors. The expansion of renewables, the energy crisis in Europe, and the delayed recovery from the Covid-19 lockdowns in China played a significant role in these trends. The Global Carbon Project, which includes a large number of German scientists and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, publishes this report annually.
The report warns that the world is projected to burn more coal, oil, and gas in 2023 than in 2022. This will lead to record levels of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels. The Climate Action Tracker has increased its projections for future warming due to the inadequate response from governments to extreme weather events.
Another significant concern highlighted in the report is the increased emissions from aviation and shipping, which are expected to grow by 11.9%. The report criticizes the insufficient action to penalize fossil fuels and the ineffectiveness of current technology to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This paints a grim picture of the future unless urgent and substantial efforts are made to curb carbon emissions worldwide.
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