Global carbon emissions are expected to rise by 2 percent in 2017, ending a three-year period of nearly no growth, according to a research published on Monday.
The alarming projection for 2017 is revealed in a new report by the Global Carbon Project (GCP), an international research consortium.
Global CO2 emissions from all human activities are projected to reach 41 billion tons by the end of 2017, and emissions from fossil fuels are set to reach a record high, according to the report.
Previously, researchers have hoped that emissions might soon reach their peak after three stable years. But the report delivered a worrying message.
With global CO2 emissions from human activities estimated at 41 billion tons for 2017, "time is running out on our ability to keep warming well below 2 degrees Celsius let alone 1.5 degrees Celsius," said Professor Corinne Le Quere at the University of East Anglia, who is a lead researcher of the work.
"We need to reach a peak in global emissions in the next few years and drive emissions down rapidly afterwards to address climate change and limit its impacts," said Le Quere.
