Will Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase Or Decrease?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) thinks global carbon emissions will increase 43 percent by 2035 if major nations maintain the status quo as far as energy policies go and do not try to stop climate change. The EIA’s 2010 long-term global energy analysis predicts that energy use will increase 49 percent between 2007 and 2035. Most new energy use will come from China, India and other developing countries. The EIA expects developing countries to increase energy consumption 84 percent. Developed OECD will account for only a 14 percent increase in energy consumption through 2035.

“Assuming no new climate policies,” the EIA says, “worldwide increases in output per capita and relatively moderate population growth overwhelm projected improvements in energy intensity and carbon intensity.”

EIA’s predictions may not come true for two reasons. First, China, the country that emits the most greenhouse gases (GHG), pledged to reduce emissions by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels. Second, last week, companies from China and Finland signed 12 clean technology deals with a value of about $250 million.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said of the deals, “As China is experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, we have to build a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society as soon as possible.” He added, “Finland has advanced capability in clean tech innovation and application, so there’s great potential for cooperation between the two countries in this regard. I hope our companies will grasp the opportunity, strengthen development and application of clean tech and carry out more reciprocal cooperation.”

What about America?

What about the U.S., the second largest emitter of GHGs? Unfortunately, the outlook for climate change legislation to pass in Congress this year is not sunny with November elections coming up for Congress followed by the December break for Congress.

“There is little chance anything will happen this year,” said Tom Lewis, chief executive. “Healthcare legislation was passed because the president made a major push but no one is willing to take a major step prior to the mid-term elections,” Lewis said. “The Democrats are in line to lose a number of seats and I don’t see a passionate push between now and November 2 to get this over the finishing line,” he added.

President Obama said he hopes bill will pass this year because the oil spill highlights the need for energy reform, but he may have used up his political influence to pass healthcare reform legislation in March.

“Obama may have used all his political capital to get healthcare over the finishing line,” said Chelsea Maxwell, managing partner of the Clark Group and former senior climate advisor to Senator John Warner.

A recent article in the Guardian, a British newspaper, hit the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to the U.S. government and the oil industry. The article says that politicians have “allowed themselves to be seduced by the cheap petrol and tax provided by BP.” The article added that in the U.S. “big oil firms, like big banks are too big to bury.” There is one factor the article overlooks: the American people, who are disgusted by the disaster in the Gulf, and BP’s bungling of it.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

gerlinde p.

9:20PM PDT on Jun 10, 2010

they will increase

send a green star

Matthew F.

1:44AM PDT on Jun 7, 2010

The people who told you that climate change was a hoax were (or were paid by) the same people who told you that oil could be drilled safely and coal could be clean.

If we can get that message out, we can save the world.

Laouida D.

10:04AM PDT on Jun 4, 2010

It will increase if some People keeps on harming the Ozone Layer!

8:48AM PDT on Jun 4, 2010

I do not think it matters. The planet will either right itself, with or without our efforts, or it won't. This does not mean I think we should just sit by and do nothing. I believe the personal is political. We are here on a quest of spirit. As each spirit heals the planet will heal. What I believe we are seeing is a world filled with very sad, wounded, spirits. The "fix" is in a realm we can only effect by our mindful actions.

Connor H.

5:48PM PDT on Jun 1, 2010

they WILL decrease, we just gotta do something right NOW. start by donating for free on sites like care2 and here http://clicks4charity.webs.com/

Vilislav I.

5:52AM PDT on Jun 1, 2010

Thanks for the information

Lori A.

2:38AM PDT on Jun 1, 2010

Thanks for sharing.

Clemente S.

2:01AM PDT on Jun 1, 2010

This is the reason why I do not like democracy and elections when senates are busy defending their job and on status quo during election period, and if election is lost and new senate comes in, a different policy apply and all those hard work of the previous senate goes down to the drain. Of course there are good points about elections, but we have to know the pros as well as cons also.

Also when the developed countries is now enjoying a great average standard of living and on the way emitted so much CO2 during the process, it is inevitable that developing countries will also start increasing emit CO2 during their process if they will eventually have great average standard of living also. Developing countries should try their best to emit as little CO2 as possible, but that is not a reason for the developing countries not to raise their standard of living and earn more income. When I say raise standard of living, it does not mean the American way of living, it can be green and live well. I praise leaders who is doing good for the earth. We should also not condemn anything until we get all the fact straight (including myself if I have spoken wrongly, pls correct me) Annie said the Carbon Credit is a huge problem, and I agree with her, then there is the anti geo-engineering guys, well, I am not sure if it is right or wrong, or can I say don't kill opportunity to solve this big global warming problem if by research, we find some alternative solutions that is worth doing.

Daylight C.

9:40PM PDT on May 31, 2010

Try this link (below) to find out about pollution and brutality. There are no good reasons for exploitation of animals or the planet because it is killing us and lowering our moral standards.

Conklin Dairy Farms Animal Brutality Video "Mercy For Animals"â€Ž - 10 hours ago
The video is extremely explicit and shows the farmers at Conklin Dairy Farms in Ohio torturing the cows and calves , hitting them , stabbing them , pounding ...
PopCorn99.com (blog) - 99 related articles Â»
#
Conklin Dairy Farms: Brutality Caught on Tape
May 26, 2010 ... Conkling Dairy Farms is in the news for its inhumane treatment of poor farm animals after a really disturbing video footage of the cruelty ...
www.allvoices.com/.../5922898-conklin-dairy-farms-brutality-caught-on-tape - Cached

http://www.google.com/search?q=conklin+dairy+farm+brutality&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

1:51PM PDT on May 31, 2010

Meat is poisoning our land, water and air. It leads to animal brutality & torture like most recently Conklin Dairy Farms Animal Brutality Video from “Mercy For Animals” : http://popcorn99.com/story/56/4283.html
"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them, that's the essence of inhumanity." ~ George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright and Essayist

It leads to deceit from farmers so they can keep using hormones to grow animals ultra fast leading to heart attacks, malformed bodies, sickness and disease. This then makes CAFOs buy 2/3rds of the ANTIBIOTICS sold in the USA which then infiltrate land and water --> poisoning wildlife and finally those hormones and antibiotics end up on our plates poisoning us leading to obesity --> hormones!! and cancer and diabetes which follow the cheap meat curve quite precisely.
But most of all for ethical reasons is why we need to forgo meat for vegan products. It is possible to switch over in 21 days. It is healthier for people and especially for animals. when I put myself in their place, I hope never to be born than to be born without a natural right to life.

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men..." ~ St. Francis of Assisi, Roman Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans order

Get rid OF GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND CAFOs disappear posthaste MAKI