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Tech Momentum and Fed Anticipation Propel Wall Street to New Heights

  U.S. stock futures climbed Wednesday morning, continuing a record-setting streak as investors rallied behind Nvidia’s meteoric rise and anticipated a pivotal decision from the Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones Industrial Average , S&P 500 , and Nasdaq 100 futures all posted gains, with the Nasdaq leading at a 0.5% increase, buoyed by tech optimism Nvidia (NVDA) surged in premarket trading, adding to its recent rally after CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote at the GTC event highlighted new AI partnerships and a bullish outlook for the industry. The company is now nearing a historic $5 trillion market valuation, driven by expectations of $500 billion in AI chip sales Investor sentiment was further lifted by speculation that former President Trump may ease restrictions on Nvidia’s sales to China, potentially boosting demand for its Blackwell AI processor Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve , which is widely expected to announce a 25 basis point interest rate cut at 2 p.m....

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Global Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Reach Unprecedented Levels in 2023

 

In a concerning development, global energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) surged to a record high last year. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that these emissions rose by 410 million tonnes, representing a 1.1% increase, bringing the total to 37.4 billion tonnes.

Several factors contributed to this alarming trend:

  1. Fossil Fuel Use in Drought-Affected Regions: Countries grappling with droughts faced challenges in hydropower production. As a result, they turned to fossil fuels, exacerbating emissions.
  2. China’s Economic Reopening: China’s economy rebounded, leading to increased energy demand and subsequent emissions.
  3. Renewables and Electric Vehicles: While clean technologies like wind, solar, and electric vehicles helped curb emissions growth, other factors offset these gains.

Scientists emphasize that steep cuts in CO2 emissions are essential to meet global climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Without rapid reductions, we risk runaway climate change. The challenge lies in swiftly transitioning away from fossil fuels and embracing sustainable alternatives.

Regional Trends

  • United States: Energy-related emissions fell by 4.1%, primarily driven by reductions in the electricity sector.
  • European Union: Emissions dropped by nearly nine per cent due to increased renewable power generation and decreased coal and gas power.
  • China: Despite contributing significantly to solar, wind, and electric vehicle additions, China’s emissions rose by 5.2% as it recovered from COVID-19-related lockdowns.

Globally, electric vehicles accounted for one in five new car sales in 2023, reaching 14 million—a remarkable 35% increase compared to 2022.

The urgency to address this crisis cannot be overstated. Our collective efforts must focus on sustainable energy sources and innovative solutions to combat climate change. 

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