New analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed that global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions experienced a growth of less than 1% in 2022, a figure lower than initially feared. This moderate increase can be attributed to the continued expansion of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, and enhanced energy efficiency. These factors have mitigated the impacts of heightened coal and oil utilization amidst the ongoing global energy crisis.
Though the rise in emissions last year was notably smaller compared to the exceptional surge of over 6% in 2021, it is important to recognize that emissions remain on a concerning upward trajectory. This underscores the urgency for more robust measures to accelerate the transition towards clean energy and steer the world towards achieving its energy and climate targets. The IEA's latest analysis, titled "CO2 Emissions in 2022," has shed light on these critical trends.
In 2022, global energy-related CO2 emissions witnessed an increase of 0.9%, equivalent to 321 million tonnes, surpassing 36.8 billion tonnes in total. Interestingly, this rise in emissions was considerably slower than the global economic growth rate of 3.2%, indicating a return to the decade-long pattern that was disrupted in 2021 by the rapid economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. Factors like extreme weather events, nuclear power plant outages, and enhanced adoption of clean energy technologies contributed to this emissions trend.
While emissions from coal experienced a growth of 1.6%, propelled by the ongoing global energy crisis that prompted a shift from gas to coal, the increase in emissions from natural gas decreased by 1.6%. This trend was in response to tightened gas supply and efforts by European entities to reduce gas consumption, driven partly by Russia's involvement in Ukraine.
The analysis also revealed that emissions from oil rose by 2.5%, largely attributed to aviation's recovery from pandemic lows, even though oil emissions remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Notable achievements were observed in specific regions. China's emissions remained relatively steady due to Covid-19 measures and reduced construction activities. The European Union achieved a 2.5% reduction in emissions, courtesy of record renewable energy deployment and prudent coal usage. In the United States, emissions grew by 0.8%, propelled by heightened energy consumption in buildings to counter extreme temperatures.
This report signals positive progress in the global effort to combat carbon emissions and advance towards cleaner energy systems. The gradual slowdown in emissions growth amidst the challenges of an energy crisis emphasizes the power of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies in steering humanity towards a more sustainable future.
Source: IEA (2023), CO2 Emissions in 2022, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/co2-emissions-in-2022, License: CC BY 4.0. [date accessed March 3rd 2022].
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