Worldwide carbon emissions from fossil fuels broke a record in 2010, according to a new report by the Global Carbon Project. "Scientists with the group said the increase, a half-billion extra tons of carbon pumped into the air, was almost certainly the largest absolute jump in any year since the Industrial Revolution, and the largest percentage increase since 2003," reports the New York Times. China, India, and other developing countries are continuing its upward climb in carbon pollution. But while the U.S. rate of emissions dropped 7 percent in 2009 because of the economy, it increased 4 percent last year. "The increase solidified a trend of ever-rising emissions that scientists fear will make it difficult, if not impossible, to forestall severe climate change in coming decades."
Meanwhile in Durban, where international climate talks are happening, China delegates said they'd be open to "negotiating a legally binding climate pact." But U.S. negotiator Todd Stern cautioned not to read too much into this. Read more about that here.
In related news, today's headline in the Onion says it all: Report: Global Warming May Be Irreversible By 2006.
-- Brian Foley
