Is the Correlation between Economic Growth and Carbon Emissions a Thing of the Past?

A recent article in the NY Times highlighted recent research that indicated a reduction in carbon emissions can still result in economic growth. Of the countries studied, 21 showed a break in what a research fellow from the World Resources Institute, Nathaniel Arden, calls a “historic link” between economic growth and carbon emissions. The US is among those 21 nations. It should be noted that US has seen advances in technology and an increased use of natural gas which implies that the US carbon reduction is not fueled solely be the desire to reduce GHG emissions.  However, the article explains that 170 nations have not seen a reduction in carbon emissions. China, Brazil and India are on that list and have followed the more traditional correlation for economic growth and carbon emissions.

While the article shows a new economic pattern we may see in the future, it highlights that today economic growth and emissions encompass many trade-offs. For example, the article quotes Sen. Bill Cassidy explaining how de-industrialized countries have seen increases economic inequality.

Link: www.nytimes.com/2016/04/06/upshot/promising-signs-that-economies-can-rise-as-emissions-decline.html?_r=0

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