Global carbon dioxide emissions continue to grow

New York Times : Results presented at the current United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar, indicate that carbon dioxide emissions are falling, albeit slowly, in the more advanced countries, including the US. Although some of the reduction is due to conscious efforts, other factors, including the weak economy, the transfer of manufacturing to developing countries, and power stations switching from burning coal to natural gas, have also contributed to the decrease. “But the decline of emissions in the developed countries is more than matched by continued growth in developing countries like China and India,” write Justin Gillis and John Broder for the New York Times. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the level of CO ₂ has increased about 41%, and scientists believe that number could double or triple in the near future. The result could include more intense weather events such as flooding, droughts, and heat waves, which many experts believe we are already beginning to experience.