According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), energy-related carbon dioxide emissions were flat in 2014 - marking the first time in 40 years that emissions plateaued or retreated without an economic downturn.  

According to the IEA data, global CO2 emissions amounted to approximately 32.3 billion tonnes in 2014, the same as in 2013. This development could "provide much-needed momentum to negotiators preparing to forge a global climate deal in Paris in December," said IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol, who is scheduled to take over for Maria van der Hoeven as Executive Director later this year.  "For the first time, greenhouse gas emissions are decoupling from economic growth."

To read the full article go to the IEA's website here >>

Photo Credit: CHPV and Scira Offshore Energy (Flickr)