Record carbon dioxide emissions: Climate change is getting worse

Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are set to increase by a record 0.9% in 2022, but this rate is lower than expected, thanks to the increasing use of renewable energy sources.

The International Energy Agency, in a report released Thursday, said, based on public national data, “there is no real risk of a sharp rise in emissions due to the increase in the use of coal in the context of the energy crisis. Also, the rising resort of solar power, wind power, electric cars and other factors to offset carbon dioxide emissions.” led to control.

Energy emissions, which account for more than three-quarters of total greenhouse gases, maintain an “unsustainable growth trajectory” that could worsen climate change, the agency said.

By 2022, carbon dioxide emissions from energy will increase by 0.9 percent to reach a record high of more than 36.8 billion tons, the report said.

But according to the agency, 550 million tons of carbon dioxide have been avoided through new low-carbon energy infrastructure. Last year, renewable energy sources accounted for 90% of electricity generation.

By 2021, the annual increase in energy-related emissions due to the pandemic and its consequences will reach 6%.

Last year, emissions rose due to more extreme weather events or difficulties operating an unprecedented number of nuclear reactors.

Emissions from burning coal, which often replaces expensive gas in Asia and Europe, rose 1.6 percent.

Likewise, the percentage of oil-related emissions increased by 2.5%, but it remained below pre-corona levels. As the International Energy Agency points out, half of this increase is due to the resumption of air travel.

Geographically, Asia, excluding China, increased its emissions by 4.2% driven by its economic growth. China’s emissions remain unchanged due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

In the EU, emissions fell by 2.5% due to unprecedented use of renewable energy sources in the face of a resurgence of coal. In the United States, emissions increased by 0.8 percent, with significant growth in energy demand due to extreme weather.

“Thanks to the significant development of renewables, electric vehicles, heat pumps and energy efficiency technologies, the consequences of the energy crisis have not led to as sharp an increase in emissions as we feared. Otherwise, the increase in CO2 emissions would have been carbon dioxide. Almost three times as much.

“However, emissions from fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) continue to rise, hampering efforts to achieve global climate goals,” he added, calling on relevant institutions to act.

He continued, “International and national companies in the fossil fuel industry are reaping record revenues and must accept their share of responsibility, consistent with their public obligations on the climate. They must review strategies for real reductions in their emissions.”

(AFP)