"Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen thanks to the global downturn, handing the world a chance to move away from high-carbon growth, a report said Monday, citing an International Energy Agency (IEA) study. The IEA study found carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels had dropped significantly this year - further than in any year in the past four decades...." [Agence France Presse (9/21)/Factiva]

The FT adds that "...IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol said the fall was 'surprising' and would make it 'much less difficult' to achieve the emissions reductions scientists say are needed to avoid dangerous global warming. 'We have a new situation, with the changes in energy demand and the postponement of many energy investments,' he said. 'But this only has meaning if we can make use of this unique window of opportunity. [That means] a deal in Copenhagen.'..." [Financial Times (9/20)]

Reuters reports that "...global electricity output is likely decline this year...by 3.5 percent, an official from the IEA said on Monday. IEA Renewable Energy Unit Head Paolo Frankl told the Renewable Energy Finance Forum that while output in China was still increasing, the recession was cutting electricity output elsewhere to cause an overall decline...." [Reuters (9/21)/Factiva]