Report: CO2 Can't Be Reduced Without Collapsing Economy

November 26, 2009 7:17 a.m. EST

Salt Lake City, Utah (AHN) - Scientists with the University of Utah argue in a new report that carbon dioxide emissions blamed by many scientists for causing global warming, cannot be stabilized without collapsing the world economy.

The report's main author, associate professor Tim Garrett said is a statement that conservation won't help because it spurs economic growth, which accelerates energy consumption.

Stabilization of carbon dioxide emissions enough to stop climate change would require about 300 gigawatts of non-carbon-emitting production capacity annually, according to Garrett.

This would mean the world would have to build about one new nuclear power plant a day, Garrett said.

The report can be found in the journal Climate Change.