IEA: GHG Emissions Lower Than Predicted

By: Clean Skies News, Published: 10/07/09 11:15am

The International Energy Agency says it has recalculated its forecast for global greenhouse gas emissions because of the economic downturn, and now sees global emissions for 2020 at 5 percent less than originally forecast.

For this year, it sees worldwide emissions falling 3 percent - the steepest drop in 45 years - that, after emissions have grown 3 percent a year on average for a decade.

IEA also says China, the world's largest emitter, will be able to slow the growth of its emissions much faster than expected because the country is investing in wind and nuclear energy.

Despite the shrinking growth in emissions, IEA says the world should not be complacent, but should come to agreement on a global climate deal in Copenhagen in December.

“The message is simple and stark: if the world continues on the basis of today's energy and climate policies, the consequences of climate change will be severe," IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said in a statement. "Energy is at the heart of the problem – and so must form the core of the solution. For this very reason, following discussions with IEA member governments and the UNFCCC Secretariat, I took the unprecedented decision to present an exceptional early release today of the climate change work of our flagship publication WEO 2009 to provide a timely contribution towards a landmark agreement in Copenhagen.”