Facts Worldwide total energy consumption will grow by 71% between 2003 and 2030, according to the reference case projection from the International Energy Outlook 2006 (IEO2006) released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from 2.9 billion metric tons in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent. 54 countries around the globe more than doubled their carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001, according to a new analysis of government data released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG). Increased combustion of oil to fuel cars and light trucks and coal for electricity drove the steep rise in emissions.
The early effects of global warming are evident worldwide. Left unchecked, global warming threatens to cause wide ranging problems, such as flooding of coastal areas, drought, species extinction, and disease outbreaks.