A science journalist analyzes CO2 emissions data showing a reduction from 5.2 billion tons to 4.4 billion tons over 8 years. What is the percent decrease per year assuming linear decline?

Sun, 03 May 2026 10:17:19 +0000

How Much Have Global CO₂ Emissions Dropped—Scientific Analysis of the 8-Year Decline from 5.2 to 4.4 Billion Tons? Recent data reveals a significant reduction in global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, falling from 5.2 billion tons in the base year to 4.4 billion tons eight years later. This decline marks meaningful progress in the ongoing effort to combat climate change. But just how much has CO₂ emissions decreased each year under a linear model? A science journalist analyzing the data sheds light on the pace and implications of this reduction. ### The Outline of the Reduction Initial CO₂ emissions stood at 5.2 billion tons. After 8 years, emissions dropped to 4.4 billion tons. That represents an absolute decrease of: