The International Energy Agency has released data showing that there was no increase in total carbon emissions worldwide as measured year on year between 2013 and 2014.
The announcement was something of a surprise – this is the first time in 40 years that emissions have remained stable in the absence of a major global economic crisis. The total amount of CO2 emitted was 32 gigatonnes, the same figure as in 2013.
"This is both a very welcome surprise and a significant one," said IEA chief economist Fatih Birol. "It provides much-needed momentum to negotiators preparing to forge a global climate deal in Paris in December: for the first time, greenhouse gas emissions are decoupling from economic growth."
