Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose to their highest level on record in 2021 as economies recovered from the coronavirus pandemic and coal use increased, the International Agency for Carbon dioxide said on Tuesday. Energy (IEA).
Global emissions from energy rose 6% in 2021 to a record 36.3 billion tonnes, according to IEA analysis.
Coal accounted for 40% of the increase in global CO2 emissions in 2021, to 15.3 billion tons.
Emissions from natural gas accounted for 7.5 billion tons, exceeding their 2019 levels, while those from oil and its derivatives were 10.7 billion tons, below their pre-pandemic levels due to the fact that the transport did not recover in 2021 due to new waves of coronavirus.
“The recovery in energy demand in 2021 was aggravated by adverse weather and energy market conditions -especially spikes in natural gas prices-, which led to more coal being burned despite the fact that electricity generation renewable energy recorded the highest growth in its history,” the IEA said in a statement.
In 2020, due to the confinements decreed by the coronavirus pandemic, these emissions were reduced by 5.2%.
China is the largest emitter, although the relationship between CO2 and economic production falls
China, which according to the IEA was the only country to experience economic growth in both 2020 and 2021, was the biggest driver of rising emissions.
“In 2021 alone, China’s CO2 emissions exceeded 11.9 billion tons, accounting for 33% of the global total,” the IEA said.
However, China also lowered its CO2 emissions per $1,000 of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), by 40% compared to the year 2000.
The use of cheaper coal boosted emissions
Rising gas prices in Europe and the United States have also contributed to rising global emissions, as power generators find it more profitable to burn coal, which emits twice as much carbon dioxide as gas-fired plants.
“The switch from gas to coal increased global CO2 emissions from electricity generation by more than 100 million tons, especially in the United States and Europe, where competition between gas and coal power plants is tougher” , indicated the IEA.
With information from Reuters, AFP and EFE
