High natural gas usage contributing to record high CO2 levels

Recent reports show that the level of carbon dioxide emission continues to grow despite the decline in coal consumption. The carbon dioxide emission is set to rise by 0.6% in 2019 according to the Global Carbon Project. Though this is lower than last year’s rate, the current emission rate will reach record high levels in over 800,000 years. The reports blame the ‘robust growth’ in consumption of oil and natural gas by developing countries as the major reason. This is said to be happening despite significant reduction in coal consumption in Europe and the USA. The atmospheric carbon dioxide level is expected to reach 410 parts per million this year and natural gas usage is reported to be the largest contributor currently. UN recently predicted that the emission levels need to decrease by 7.6% annually every year till 2030 to achieve the target of limiting global warming at 1.5 degree Celsius