Global fossil fuel emissions to reach record levels this year

New Delhi| India’s fossil fuel emissions are projected to rise 4.6 percent this year, according to a new research by international scientists. At the same time, there could be a slight increase of 0.2 per cent in China.

The report of recent research was presented at the UN’s Climate Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. It reported that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels could reach 37.4 billion tons, an increase of 0.8 percent from 2023 levels.

Not only that, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are projected to reach 422.5 ppm this year. This could make it the hottest year ever. This is 2.8 ppm higher than last year and 52 per cent higher than pre-Industrial Revolution levels.

Professor Pierre Friedlingstine of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute, who led the study, commented on the ongoing spike in fossil fuel consumption despite the effects of climate change. He said the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly dramatic, yet we still see no sign that fossil fuel burning has peaked.

India’s greenhouse gas emissions rose 6.1 percent in 2023, accounting for 8 percent of the global total, a U.N. report last month reported. However, India’s historical contribution to global CO2 emissions is only three percent. The country’s per capita emissions are 2.9 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), well below the global average of 6.6 tCO2e.

China, which accounts for 32 per cent of the global total, is likely to see its emissions rise by 0.2 per cent, though a decline is also possible, the Global Carbon Project report released during the COP29 discussions said. Emissions from the United States and the European Union, contributing 13 per cent and seven per cent respectively. Both are going to decrease. There will be a decrease of 0.6 per cent for the US and 3.8 per cent for the EU. For fossil fuel emissions in India, which is eight percent of the global total. Scientists forecast a 4.6 percent increase.