Study finds emissions stable, but much needs to be done to avoid catastrophic changes

Commercial growth is frequently maligned as the cause of the world’s worsening carbon dioxide emissions, but a released recently study seems to contravene that argument.

A story by The Conversation editor, Sunanda Creagh, headed: “Greenhouse emissions stable over a decade as GDP grew 31%”, said the economic growth did not equate a worsening of emissions.

“The findings show that conversion to green economy need not be painful and is already underway in Australian industry.” Ms Creagh wrote.

According to the report, released by the Monash University research unit, ClimateWorks, the stable emissions, despite economic growth, were achieved through reduced deforestation, tree planting, a big boost in industry energy efficiency and sharp drops in power emissions.

However, much more needs to be done, the study found, if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided.