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January 9, 2019

Carbon Emissions Spiked in 2018 Despite Coal Plant Closures
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In environmental news, newly released data shows that carbon dioxide
emissions in the U.S. increased by 3.4 percent in 2018, the largest
increase in eight years. The spike comes despite a large number of coal
plants closing in the past year. Researchers say the increase can be
attributed to a rise in emissions from transportation, buildings and
factories. Last month, scientists said carbon dioxide emissions surged
globally in 2018, describing the alarming trend as a "speeding freight
train."

In response to Tuesday's report, May Boeve of 350.org said, "There are
consequences to government inaction. … [W]ithout taking critical
measures to cut fossil-fuel emissions much more drastically, we are
locking ourselves into the devastating consequences of climate change,
including rising sea levels, more severe hurricanes and storms,
wildfires, and more. … With a new Congress in session, we demand they
heed these warnings and step up to act at the scale of the crisis."


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