2013 saw global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use and cement production reach a new all-time high. This was mainly due to the continuing steady increase in energy use in emerging economies over the past ten years.

Countries, worldwide, have agreed that international efforts should be aimed at keeping the global mean temperature increase below 2 °C, compared to pre-industrial levels.

This report provides an overview of projected greenhouse gas emissions of seven major emitting countries (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and the United States) out to 2030, taking into account the emissions trajectories based on current and selected enhanced policies.

By 2050, around 70% of the world's population of 9,2 billion people is expected to live in an urban environment. Especially in developing countries this increasing population and expanding cities pose great challenges with respect to access to clean drinking water, sanitation, waste water treatment and protection against floods.

This report discusses the results of a trend assessment of global CO2 emissions up to 2012 and updates last year’s assessment.

The EU has set itself the ambition of an 80% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2050. Such a drastic reduction requires a much more vigorous renewal of the energy system. Setting a target for emission reduction alone is not enough This needs to be complemented by policies and targets for innovation and energy efficiency.

A greenhouse gas reduction target of 40% below 1990 levels for 2030 for the European Union, to be achieved within Europe, would not necessarily be sufficient for achieving the target of limiting global temperature increase to 2 °C, given a possible lack of comparable efforts by other countries.

Global emissions of CO2 increased by 3% last year, reaching an all-time high of 34 billion tonnes in 2011, according to this report released by European Commission. Top emitters contributing to this increase in CO2 are China, US, EU, India, the Russia & Japan.

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