The World Has Passed Peak CO2 Emissions

Chinese coal imports from August to September are down 23% from the same period last year.  Imports are also down in India, Japan, and other countries.  World thermal coal demand appears to have peaked in 2013:  

http://ieefa.org/fact-checking-the-iea-the-worlds-three-largest-coal-importers-are-importing-less/

This means we are likely to now be past peak anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and we should now see decreasing emissions year on year from this point on. 

Unfortunately this doesn't mean we have past peak atmospheric CO2 concentration.  I'm afraid that will continue to rise until we have cut our emissions by roughly 80%. 

Free Riders On The Storm

John Quiggin recently wrote about how a certain country that shall remain nameless, but which begins and ends with an A and isn't Andora or in South America, and how it is attempting to free ride on the CO2 emission reductions of other countries by getting rid of its carbon price.  This inspired me to write the following song.  However, I can't talk all the credit for it as I did get some help from Jim Morrison:


Free riders on the storm
Free riders on the storm
Around government they swarm
Against them I now warn
They’re out seeking rent
And won’t stop until we’re spent
Free riders on the storm

There’s a killer in the air
In his birth we all share
Fly on a holiday
For a nice steak pay
Emit it from your ride
And sweet Bangladeshis will die
Killer in the air

Girl ya gotta be informed
Girl ya gotta be informed
Take your keyboard in your hand
Make them understand
The world on you depends
For many lives will end
Gotta be informed

Free riders on the storm
Free riders on the storm
Around government they swarm
Against them now I warn
They’re out seeking rent
And won’t stop until we’re spent
Free riders on the storm