Despite the fact that the global economy expanded last year, global energy emissions did not according to data from the International Energy Agency. The expanding use of renewable energy, particularly in China, played an important role in keeping emissions from the energy sector to thirty two point three billion tons of carbon dioxide last year, the same as in twenty thirteen.
According to the Associated Press, over the past five decades, the only other times that emissions stayed the same or shrank were during economic downturns, including during the early nineteen eighties, in nineteen ninety two and in two thousand and nine. While global economic performance remains erratic, world output still managed to grow three percent last year.
The report also indicates that government and industry policies to combat climate change may be working better than expected, including by reducing reliance on coal and using more energy produced through wind and solar technologies. The new information also makes it clear that nations can expand economically without increasing emissions.
