Greenhouse gas emissions rise like a ‘speeding freight train’ in 2018

Worldwide, carbon emissions are expected to increase by 2.7 per cent in 2018, according to the new research, which was published by the Global Carbon Project, a group of 100 scientists from more than 50 academic and research institutions.

(Written by Kendra Pierre-Louis)

Greenhouse gas emissions worldwide are growing at an accelerating pace this year, researchers said Wednesday, putting the world on track to face some of the most severe consequences of global warming sooner than expected.

Scientists described the quickening rate of carbon dioxide emissions in stark terms, comparing it to a “speeding freight train” and laying part of the blame on an unexpected surge in the appetite for oil as people around the world not only buy more cars but also drive them farther than in the past — more than offsetting any gains from the spread of electric vehicles.

“We’ve seen oil use go up five years in a row,” said Rob Jackson, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University and an author of one of two studies published Wednesday. “That’s really surprising.”