Amid Earth’s heat records, scientists report another bump upward in annual carbon emissions

AP Science Writer

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Even as Earth sets new heat records, humanity this year is pumping 330 million tons (300 million metric tons) more carbon dioxide into the air by burning fossil fuels than it did last year. This year the world is on track to put 41.2 billion tons (37.4 billion metric tons) of the main heat-trapping gas into the atmosphere. That’s a 0.8% increase from 2023, according to Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists who track emissions. The continued rise is mostly from the developing world and China. Scientists say the world has to cut emissions by 42% by 2030 to have a chance to limit warming to an internationally agreed threshold and stave off the worst effects of climate change.