Global CO2 Emissions To Rise 43 Percent By 2035: EIA

Timothy Gardner, PlanetArk 26 May 10;

The world's emissions of carbon dioxide from burning coal, oil, and natural gas should rise 43 percent by 2035 barring global agreements to reduce output of the gases blamed for warming the planet, the top U.S. energy forecaster said on Tuesday.

Global emissions of carbon dioxide from the fossil fuel sources should rise from 29.7 billion tonnes in 2007 to 42.4 billion tonnes in 2035, the Energy Information Administration said in its annual long-term energy outlook.

Much of the rise will occur in rapidly growing developing countries like China and India where electricity demand is expected to soar.

"With strong economic growth and continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels expected for most of the non-(Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) economies under current policies, much of the projected increase in carbon dioxide emissions occurs among" those developing countries, the EIA report said.

In the absence of national policies on emissions and binding international agreements to fight climate change, global coal consumption is expected to rise from 132 quadrillion British thermal units in 2007 to 206 quadrillion Btu in 2035, the EIA said.

Rich countries and developing countries have had trouble agreeing on a pact that would cut greenhouse gas emissions enough to prevent the droughts, heat waves, and floods expected from global warming.

The stalled U.S. climate bill, which if passed could help bring countries together, faces an uncertain future as lawmakers in coal- and oil-producing states oppose it. The United States is the world's second leading emitter of greenhouse gases after China.

(Editing by David Gregorio)