CO2 emissions reached report excessive in 2023 — IEA
Energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide hit a report excessive in 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated in a report on Friday.
The IEA evaluation confirmed that it rose by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023 to 37.4 billion tonnes.
“Far from falling rapidly — as is required to meet the global climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement — CO2 emissions reached a new record high,” the IEA stated.
However, the Paris-based watchdog additionally discovered clear power together with wind and photo voltaic power, in addition to electrical autos, had helped to offset the impression of the continued burning of coal and oil progress, which was 1.3% in 2022.
Drought performed a job in driving emissions
The reopening of China’s economic system after the COVID-19 pandemic and a restoration within the aviation sector contributed to an total rise, the IEA stated in its report.
Severe droughts final yr in China, the United States, India, and different nations hampered hydropower manufacturing.
It accounted for round 40% of the rise in emissions or 170 million tonnes of CO2.
“Without this effect, emissions from the global electricity sector would have fallen in 2023,” the IEA stated.
Carbon dioxide emissions from coal accounted for the remaining improve.
Renewable power breakthrough
The IEA evaluation confirmed that 2023 was the primary yr during which no less than half of electrical energy era in industrialized nations got here from low-emission sources equivalent to renewable power and nuclear energy.
Energy-related emissions within the United States fell by 4.1%, and 9% within the European Union, pushed by a surge in renewable energy era.
Overall, superior economies’ emissions dropped to a 50-year low as coal demand fell again to ranges not seen for the reason that early 1900s.
While emissions rose in China, the IEA stated that the nation additionally contributed round 60% of world additions of photo voltaic, wind energy, and electrical autos in 2023.
Scientists say fossil gas emissions will have to be lower over the approaching years to restrict a world rise in temperatures and stop runaway local weather change.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated Thursday that chopping emissions is “essentially” the accountability of G20 nations.
“It is absolutely essential that there is not only a much bigger ambition in relation to the reduction of emissions, and that is essentially a responsibility of the G20 countries that represent 80% of the emissions,” Guterres stated.
lo/ab (Reuters, AFP, dpa)
