Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will increase 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 tonsindicated the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report.
“The risk of runaway emissions growth due to increased coal use in the context of the energy crisis has not materialized, as increases in solar and wind power, electric cars, energy efficiency and other factors have slowed the rise in CO2 emissions,” the IEA said, 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 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.
By 2021, the annual increase in energy-related emissions had reached 6%, after the first year of the covid-19 pandemicexceptionally low.
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 rose 2.5% but remained below pre-pandemic levels. Half of this growth was due to the recovery in air traffic, the IEA explained.
By geographic area, Asia excluding China experienced a 4.2% increase in emissions., driven by economic growth. China, subject to covid restrictions, kept 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 have not generated 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 this, the growth of CO2 emissions would have been almost three times higher”, commented the director of the IEA, Fatih Birol.
“However, fossil fuel emissions [petróleo, gás, carvão] continue to grow, hampering efforts to meet global climate goalshe added, calling for action by the companies involved.
“International and domestic fossil fuel companies are earning 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: Observadora
