Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased in 2022, but at a slower rate than expected due to the rise of green energy and technologies, it was announced Thursday.
Last year, CO2 emissions from energy sources grew by 0.9%, reaching a record of more than 36.8 billion tons, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report.
“The risk of runaway growth in emissions due to increased use of coal in the context of the energy crisis has not materialized, as the rise of solar and wind power, electric cars, energy efficiency and other factors have slowed the increase in CO2 emissions. “, said the IEA, based on an analysis of French public data.
Energy emissions – more than three-quarters of total greenhouse gases – remain on an “unsustainable growth trajectory”, fueling climate disruption, the IEA has warned, calling for stronger action.
But, according to the IEA, 550 million tons of CO2 were also avoided thanks to the new low-carbon energy infrastructure. Last year, renewable energies accounted for 90% of the growth in electricity production.
In 2021, the annual increase in energy-related emissions reached 6%, following the first exceptionally low year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Emissions last year were driven by a growing reliance on fossil fuels due to a resurgence of extreme weather events and difficulties operating an unprecedented number of nuclear reactors.
The emissions generated by the combustion of coal, which in Asia, but also in Europe, has often replaced gas, which is too expensive, increased by 1.6%.
Oil emissions increased 2.5% but remained below pre-COVID-19 levels. Half of this growth was due to the recovery in air traffic, the IEA explained.
By geographic area, Asia excluding China saw an increase in emissions of 4.2%, driven by economic growth. China, subject to Covid restrictions, has maintained the same level of emissions.
In the EU, emissions fell 2.5%, thanks to a record deployment of renewable energy before the return of coal. In the US they increased by 0.8%, with a strong increase in energy demand due to extreme temperatures.
“The impacts of the energy crisis did not generate the enormous growth in emissions that we feared, thanks to the notable growth of renewable energies, electric vehicles, heat pumps and energy efficiency technologies. Without it, the growth of CO2 emissions would have been almost three times higher”, commented the director of the IEA, Fatih Birol.
“However, emissions from fossil fuels [petróleo, gás, carvão] continue to grow, hampering efforts to meet global climate goals,” he added, urging the companies involved to take action.
“International and domestic fossil fuel companies are achieving record revenues and must take their share of responsibility, in line with public climate commitments. They need to review strategies to ensure that emissions are reduced effectively,” he said.
Source: TSF
