Climate change and emissions

Global average temperature has risen by approximately 1°C since the late 19th century

Global weather patterns change over time, driven by natural and human factors. The long-term measurement of weather in a region is known as its climate. The Earth's climate is currently warming, primarily due to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane emitted by human activities such as the use of fossil fuels for energy. Changes to the climate are likely to result in disruptions to water resources, ecosystems and crop yields, as well as increased climate-related extremes, vulnerability of marginalised populations and sea level rise. To avoid the worst impacts, significant efforts are underway to harness energy in ways that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Since 1992, most countries have been part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty providing a framework for international cooperation for combating climate change.

Learn more about climate change and emissions by exploring records published on our Energy Matrix.
For details on the progress in achieving the global and national climate change targets read the Energy World analyses.
Discover UK energy professionals' views of the best measures to reach emissions targets by reading our annual Energy Barometer.

What's new?

Majority of car makers face huge fines for missing CO2 emissions targets

10-12-2018
PA Consulting’s forecast of car manufacturers’ performance against mandatory European Union (EU) carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets suggests that eight out of 13 car manufacturers will miss their 2021 targets and face significant fines. Volkswagen, Ford, Fiat, PSA, BMW, D...

Petroleum industry aims to cut methane emissions

1-12-2018
With member companies accounting for 30% of global oil and gas production, the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is ‘dedicated to the ambition of the Paris Agreement to progress to net zero emissions in the second half of this century.’ Here, Strategy & Policy Director Julien P...

World’s energy infrastructure enough to reach Paris Agreement emissions limit alone – IEA

7-11-2018
Almost all future emissions permissible in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Sustainable Development Scenario are essentially already locked in by the current energy infrastructure installed around the globe, according to the IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook (WEO), rele...

Energy efficiency key to global emissions reduction – IEA

7-11-2018
If the right energy efficiency policies were enacted globally this could on its own see greenhouse gas emissions peak in the next few years and then drop – even if the global economy doubled by 2040.This is the headline finding of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) latest...

D Heaven, Zero emission plane has lift-off, NewScientist, 2 November 2018, p 7

2-11-2018
In US, MIT has announced the first successful flight of its electroaerodynamic plane, although the flight consisted only of 12 seconds, covering 55 metres. The plane has a wingspan of 5 metres, and mass of 45 gm, the propulsive thrust being generated by means of ions released from electr...

Events and training

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Technical guidance publications

Design, construction, modification, maintenance and decommissioning of filling stations (known as the Blue Book)

2018
The fourth edition of Design, construction, modification, maintenance and decommissioning of filling stations (also known as the Blue Book) is essential reading for all those involved in the design, construction, modification, maintenance and decommissioning of facilities for the storage and dispens...

Guidance on conceptual design, selection and life cycle assurance of products intended to improve integrity of bases of above-ground storage tanks holding petroleum, petroleum products or other fuels

2018
This publication is intended primarily for use by process safety specialists, designers, inspectors, regulators and operators and owners of facilities holding bulk stores of petroleum, petroleum products or other fuels in ASTs.The information provided in this publication aims to explain the multi-la...

Fuels for gas turbine engines

2018
Published by Landfall Press; Author: Eric Goodger. Since its emergence during WW2 as a viable alternative to the piston engine,the gas turbine engine has enjoyed a period of rapid development, becoming ubiquitous in the fields of both propulsive thrust and power generation. The related fuels ha...

Guidelines for the uplift of petroleum, petroleum products and other fuels from retail filling stations and customers' tanks

2018
These guidelines have been prepared on the basis that most product uplift operations are outsourced to specialist uplift contractors by clients who encounter them infrequently. For the former, they identify hazards and necessary control measures, including specifications for appropriate equipment, a...

Good practice guidance for controlling noise on offshore installations

2018
UK regulations that apply to offshore installations require the control of noise to be managed where it affects the workers at work and rest. They recognise the importance of managing the hazards associated with noise, not only from the perspective of worker protection and welfare but also for the l...