World’s Emissions Skyrocket

Global CO2 emissions rebounded to their highest level in history in 2021

8 March 2022 (International Energy Agency)

“Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose by 6% in 2021 to 36.3 billion tonnes, their highest ever level, as the world economy rebounded strongly from the Covid-19 crisis and relied heavily on coal to power that growth…The increase in global CO2 emissions of over 2 billion tonnes was the largest in history in absolute terms, more than offsetting the previous year’s pandemic-induced decline…

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The recovery of energy demand in 2021 was compounded by adverse weather and energy market conditions – notably the spikes in natural gas prices – which led to more coal being burned despite renewable power generation registering its largest ever growth…Coal accounted for over 40% of the overall growth in global CO2 emissions in 2021…CO2 emissions from natural gas rebounded well above their 2019 levels…CO2 emissions from oil remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels because of the limited recovery in global transport activity in 2021, mainly in the aviation sector…

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Renewables-based generation reached an all-time high…The use of coal for electricity generation in 2021 was intensified by record high natural gas prices…[China’s emissions increases in 2020 and 2021] more than offset the aggregate decline in the rest of the world over the same period…[and accounted in 2021] for 33% of the global total…CO2 emissions in India rebounded strongly in 2021 to rise above 2019 levels…On a per capita basis, CO2 emissions in advanced economies have fallen to 8.2 tonnes on average and are now below the average of 8.4 tonnes in China…” click here for more

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