Trends in Global CO2 Emissions: 2014 Report
Background Studies of the EU Joint Research Centre
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion and from industrial processes (cement and metal production) increased in 2013 to the new record of 35.3 billion tonnes (Gt) CO2, which is 0.7 Gt higher than last year’s record. This moderate increase of 2% in 2013 compared to 2012 is a continuation of last year’s trend and of the slowdown in the annual emissions growth.
The global increase in CO2 emissions largely reflects the increase in fossil energy consumption, driven mainly by emerging economies with a steadily increasing energy use over the past decade. Regionally, annual CO2 emission trends show large differences both in magnitude and underlying causes, complicating the evaluation of the robustness of observed trends. Comparison of the trends in the energy mix and of the resulting emissions in major emitting regions reveals different approaches adopted by different countries towards a low-carbon economy and society.
The assessment excludes CO2 emissions from deforestation and logging, forest and peat fires, from post-burn decay of remaining above-ground biomass, and from decomposition of organic carbon in drained peat soils.
Source: Source: PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and JRC Technical Note number: JRC93171