Recession to bring biggest annual fall in CO2 emissions in 40 years

October 5th, 2009 LONDON - A new study has determined that 'green roofs', that is, roofs with a cover of plants, can significantly cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to a report in New Scientist, Kristin Getter and colleagues at Michigan State University in East Lansing carried out the study.

September 18th, 2009 LONDON - Indian plans to set numerical targets for curbing greenhouse gas emissions were described Friday as a breakthrough that challenges the US and other rich nations over climate change action. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told The Times of London legislation was being drafted to limit India's carbon footprint ahead of a UN climate change summit in Copenhagen December.

September 10th, 2009 LONDON - Condoms are the cheapest way to reduce carbon emissions, claims a controversial new report. According to the report for the UK's Optimum Population Trust, putting the brake on global population growth would be five times cheaper than any other method of tackling the world's greenhouse gases.

August 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A panel of experts have determined that China's carbon emissions output could peak around 2030 if the government continues to be serious about "strengthened measures" to improve energy efficiency and if it accelerates exploration of renewable energy. According to the panel from the National Development and Reform Commission and the Development Research Center of the State Council, with the right policies, emissions growth could slow after 2020, with a peak around 2030.

August 13th, 2009 Euro area economy contracted only 0.1 pct in Q2LONDON — The recession in the 16 countries that use the euro eased substantially between April and June after unexpected growth in Germany and France, the euro zone's two largest economies, official figures showed Thursday. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat revealed that the euro zone's gross domestic product fell by only 0.1 percent in the second quarter from the previous three month period.

August 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new report has determined that the current methods for estimating greenhouse gas emissions have limitations that make it difficult to monitor CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions and verify an international climate treaty. This is part of a new National Research Council letter report to the administrator of NASA, Charles F.

July 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US economy shrank at a one-percent annual rate in the second quarter of 2009, according to a preliminary estimate Friday by the US Commerce Department. The figure was better than economists expected and signals that the longest US recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s has slowed dramatically.

July 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a case study, a scientist has found that modern woodstoves, with the advanced secondary combustion systems, are now 95 percent more efficient than their predecessors. The case study on the benefits of woodstoves, was done by Dr.

July 8th, 2009 Euro zone Q1 contraction confirmed at 2.5 percentLONDON — Official figures confirmed that the 16 countries that use the euro saw output shrink by 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009 from the previous three month period as the global recession sapped the industrial exports that the euro zone relies on for growth. Though the final estimate left the quarterly rate unchanged, the annual decline was greater than anticipated.

June 27th, 2009 LONDON - An analysis has revealed that the financial crisis may have been good for the climate, as high oil prices caused the growth of greenhouse gas emissions to drop by half in 2008. According to a report in New Scientist, that is the conclusion of an analysis of preliminary data released yesterday by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (NEAA).

June 12th, 2009 Euro zone industrial output slumps in AprilLONDON — Industrial production in the 16 countries that use the euro slumped in April, official figures showed Friday, stoking fears that the euro zone remains in the grip of recession despite signs elsewhere that a recovery of sorts may be underway. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat said a 1.9 percent drop in April — the eighth consecutive monthly fall — pushed the annual rate of decline down to a record 21.6 percent.

June 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, a team of scientists has found a direct relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and global warming. The study was done by Damon Matthews, a professor in Concordia University's Department of Geography, Planning and the Environment, along with colleagues from Victoria and the UK.

May 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has shown that shown that a biofuel eliminating even 10-percent of current gasoline pollutant emissions would have a beneficial impact on human health. While the focus of a shift from gasoline to biofuels has been on global warming, such a shift could also impact human health.

April 16th, 2009 BERLIN - European industrial production plunged by an annual 18.4 percent in February, according to data released Thursday, amid dwindling inflationary pressures and signs that the global recession has tightened its grip on the region's economy. The European Union's (EU) statistics office, Eurostat, said the sharp fall in industrial production in the 16-member eurozone followed a 2.3 percent drop in February compared with January.

March 16th, 2009 LONDON - In a new research, a statistician in the US has suggested that every individual is not only liable for the greenhouse gas emissions caused by him, but also for his children, and further descendants. According to a report in New Scientist, the statistician in question is Paul Murtaugh, from Oregon State University in Corvallis, US.