Global Carbon Emissions in Biggest Jump Ever

Carbon dioxide emissions around their world jumped by the largest amount ever last year, increasing by half a billion tons, reports the New York Times. As a percentage, the 5.9% rise was the largest since 2003 and a sign that 2009's drop of 1.4% was an aberration cause by the worldwide recession. Scientists say they expect carbon dioxide output to continue climbing by some 3% a year for the rest of this decade, increasing the dangers of climate change from greenhouse gasses.

In China, the world's largest producer of CO₂, emissions soared 10.4%, adding 2.2 billion tons of carbon to the atmosphere. In the US, the world's No. 2 carbon dioxide producer, emissions were up 4%, after dropping 7% the year before. The developing world now accounts for 57% of carbon dioxide emissions, although the developed world has a much higher rate of emissions per person. (More carbon dioxide stories.)