دی اکسید کربن موجود در هوا در پی بروز بحران اقتصادی و همچنین استفاده از منابع تامین انرژی جایگزین کاهش پیدا کرده است. گزارش ذیل بیان می دارد که در سال 2009 کاهش مصرف سوخت باعث کاهش شش درصد دی اکسید کربن شده است. پیش بینی ها حاکی از افزایش احتمالی این مقدار با آغاز بهبود شرایط اقتصادی است.

The Energy Information Administration released its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) last week with a bombshell prediction for near-term carbon dioxide emissions:

Projected carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels fall by 6.0 percent in 2009 because of the weak economic conditions and declines in the consumption of most fossil fuels (U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Growth Chart).  Coal leads the drop in 2009 CO2 emissions, falling by nearly 10 percent because of fuel switching from coal to natural gas in the electric power sector.  The projected recovery in the economy contributes to an expected 0.9-percent increase in CO2 emissions in 2010.

Now that’s the perfect storm:  a weak economy, low natural gas prices, state renewable energy standards, and a clean-energy-friendly stimulus (see “EIA projects wind at 5% of U.S. electricity in 2012, all renewables at 14%, thanks to Obama stimulus!“).

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