CO2 emissions are reduced by 3% in 2009 by the economic crisis

Global emissions of CO2, the main global warming gas, is reduced by 3% in 2009 as a result of the economic crisis. This is the main conclusion of a study presented in Bangkok by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

This fall will be the most powerful recorded in 40 years as director clarified the IEA, Faith Birol, during a press conference in which so far has emphasized the development of emissions has increased 3% each year.

In his view, the drop in emissions represents a "single window" to achieve a reduction of CO2 it possible to halt climate change, if applied immediately the appropriate policies to achieve this.

"The economic and financial crisis has created an opportunity for transition from the global energy system. It is a unique opportunity, but we must act now," said secretary of the UN Climate Change Yvo de Boer, in his foreword to the report.

The energy, which accounts for two thirds of global emissions of greenhouse gases, is "the heart of the problem and therefore should be central to the solution," says the IEA. The organization presented a proposal that would limit the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at 450 parts per million, which the scientists said, would serve to limit the global temperature increase to +2 degrees.

The decline in the projected emissions in 2009 caused by the crisis means that "it is easier to achieve the goal of 450 ppm of this year than last," said Birol. According to the IEA, three quarters of this decline would be related to the economic crisis and the fourth is related to the measures implemented by governments to combat climate change.

The next December in Copenhagen next global climate summit, which will attempt to find a replacement for under the Kyoto Protocol.