GHG emissions in US to grow quickly in next 50 years: Research

New York, Nov 16 (UNI) Emission level of greenhouse gases in the US will grow more quickly in the next 50 years than in the previous half century, significantly dampening hopes of fighting global warming, according to a new research.

Mr Richard Eckaus from MIT predicted the rates of growth could be higher by a half per cent or more, which becomes significant when compounded over fifty years.

Currently the US is the world's largest polluter which accounts for nearly 36.1 per cent of worldwide greenhouse emissions and has not yet ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

The study also revealed that pace of greenhouse emissions would not slow down even with technological advances and current energy-saving efforts.

''We found that, in spite of increasing energy prices, technological change has not been responsible for much reduction in energy use, and that it may have had the reverse effect,'' 'Science Daily' quoted Mr Eckaus as saying.

The researchers studied the periods 1958 to 1996 and 1980 to 1996 and assessed projections from 2000 to 2050.

Based on their findings from the past 50 years and adjusted for a more realistic expectation for technological changes, they found that the rates of growth for energy use and emissions may accelerate from the historical rates of 2.2 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively.

Mr Eckaus also suggested a system of taxing the energy use in order to cut down the emissions in the US which houses four per cent of the world's population but produces about 25 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

''Technological change will not necessarily reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Energy taxes or a system of caps on energy use and trade in emissions permits are necessary,'' he added.

UNI