Greenhouse gas emissions reach highest point ever

And while the global economy is heading toward a double dip recession if we want to be optimists, the relentless burning of fossil fuels is continuing regardless of the crisis, an interesting new report on global warming:

Greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year, to the highest carbon output in history, putting an end to hopes of holding global warming to safe levels according to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency.

This also shows the most serious global recession in80 years has had only a minimal effect on emissions, contrary to some predictions.

Last year, a record 30.6 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide was poured into the atmosphere, mainly from burning fossil fuel – a rise of 1.6Gt on 2009, according to estimates from the IEA regarded as the gold standard for emissions data.