Report: Global greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2013

Emissions from coal-burning power plant (Credit: U.S. Department of Energy)

Emissions of greenhouse gases rose 2.3 percent in 2013 over the previous year, according to the New York Times. The figure is a bit lower than the decade’s average growth rate of 2.5 percent, but still too high for those working to reduce emissions globally.

China was found to be the world’s largest emitter in a report from the Global Carbon Project, according to the Times. The United States, which had seen emissions declines in years following an economic recession, registered an increase of 2.9 percent.

Full results of the report are published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Scientists say they indicate that more effort is needed for global emission reduction goals to be achieved.

Image: Emissions from coal-burning power plant (Credit: U.S. Department of Energy)