IEA: Emissions figures are serious setback
Dr Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency, comments on record high emissions figures in 2010:
“This significant increase in CO2 emissions and the locking in of future emissions due to infrastructure investments represent a serious setback to our hopes of limiting the global rise in temperature to no more than 2C.
“Our latest estimates are another wake-up call.
“The world has edged incredibly close to the level of emissions that should not be reached until 2020 if the 2C target is to be attained.
“Given the shrinking room for manoeuvre in 2020, unless bold and decisive decisions are made very soon, it will be extremely challenging to succeed in achieving this global goal agreed in Cancun.”
