Sour Economy Slowed Growth of Climate Change Emissions – When the economy finally heats up again, so will the world.

If a bright spot can be found to the economic downturn that has hammered economies around the globe, it’s this: Scientists have detected a small yet discernable slowing of the growth of climate change emissions in 2008. Emissions grew only about 2 percent last year instead of the 3.6 annual growth experienced during the previous seven years.

But don’t get too excited. Based on projected changes in gross domestic product worldwide, emissions in 2009 are expected to fall to their 2007 levels and then jump back up again in 2010.

So when the economy finally heats up again, so will the world.

Steve Running, UM Regents Professor of Ecology and director of the Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group http://ntsg.umt.edu/ , College of Forestry and Conservation, 406-243-6311, [email protected]

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