Renewable energy sources really making a difference!
Global emissions of carbon dioxide from the energy sector stalled in
2014, marking the first time in 40 years in which there was a halt or
reduction in emissions of the greenhouse gas that was not tied to an
economic downturn, according to new data from the International Energy
Agency (IEA).
"This gives me even more hope that humankind will be able to work
together to combat climate change, the most important threat facing us
today," said IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol, recently named to take
over from Maria van der Hoeven as the next IEA Executive Director.
Global emissions of carbon dioxide stood at 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014,
unchanged from the preceding year. The preliminary IEA data suggest that
efforts to mitigate climate change may be having a more pronounced
effect on emissions than had previously been thought.
The IEA attributes the halt in emissions growth to changing patterns of
energy consumption in China and OECD countries. In China, 2014 saw
greater generation of electricity from renewable sources, such as
hydropower, solar and wind, and less burning of coal.
In OECD economies, recent efforts to promote more sustainable growth –
including greater energy efficiency and more renewable energy – are
producing the desired effect of decoupling economic growth from
greenhouse gas emissions.
"This is both a very welcome surprise and a significant one," added
Birol. "It provides much-needed momentum to negotiators preparing to
forge a global climate deal in Paris in December: for the first time,
greenhouse gas emissions are decoupling from economic growth."
Solar panles on building roof image courtesy R. Greenway, ENN.
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