Carbon emissions reach record high worldwide in 2018

A new report from the International Energy Agency determined carbon dioxide emissions was at an all-time high in 2018. While global emissions rose 1.7 percent to reach a historic 33.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide, it was the highest rate of growth since 2013, according to IEA.

An overall growing economy, which caused a greater energy demand, is to blame along with climate change – sending more global warming gasses into the environment – EcoWatch reported. The extreme global hot and cold temperatures caused by climate change made people depend on the increased use of heating and cooling systems.

“[D]espite major growth in renewables, global emissions are still rising, demonstrating once again that more urgent action is needed on all fronts,” Fatih Birol, IEA Executive director, said. “It seems like a vicious cycle. Heating and cooling are one of the biggest drivers of energy demand growth.”

Read the story from Nation of Change by Ashley Curtin - “Carbon emissions reach record high worldwide in 2018.”