Bigger GDP, Smaller Carbon Footprint

While GDP grew by 1.8% in ’11, carbon emissions fell by 2.4% and total energy consumption fell by 0.5%. Better yet, since ‘90, GDP has risen 66% while carbon emissions have risen just 9%! A major reason for this is the large decline in coal’s share of electricity generation, from 53% in ’90 to 43% today, along with a concomitant rise in natural gas electricity generation from 10% to 24%.