Economic recovery bad for the climate

(Climate change video shoot Alaska 2008)

The 2°C limit for global temperature rise seems to have slipped a bit further into the realm of impossibility. Figures published by the International Energy Agency indicate that CO2 emissions from energy reached a record high during 2010. This probably reflects the economic recovery. Emissions dropped in 2009 but went on to reach a record of 30.6 gigatonnes in 2010. It’s hard for the layperson to interpret that. But if you hear it is about 5% up on the last record year in 2008, you know it is definitely bad news. The experts tell us this makes the effort to keep rising emissions to a maximum 2° increasingly difficult. And we know there are enough scientists and other experts who say even 2° would be too high.
Here in Bonn, the next round of interim climate talks are starting on June 6th. They need to make some progress towards implementing the agreements reached in Cancun.But the pledges countries made there will not be enough to secure the 2° limit, so we need a lot more. Those delegates have their work cut out for them. And I for one am not feeling terribly optimistic right now.