Fossil burning continues to increase, although green energy production is increasing at a faster rate. But it is not enough to achieve the Paris climate goals.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions increased again worldwide in 2022 – mainly because oil and coal consumption increased. The total CO₂ emissions rose by 0.9 percent to a total of 36.8 billion tons worldwide – more than ever before in one year.
The figure is below expectations, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), as the upsurge in green energy sources partially offset higher consumption of oil and coal. According to the IEA, without these “clean energies” the increase in CO₂ emissions would have been almost three times as high last year.
Much more green electricity produced
In 2022, more electricity was produced worldwide than in the previous year, as SRF business editor Philipp Erath explains. “90 percent of this additional production was due to wind and sun.”
In total, electricity production using these green methods amounted to 275 terawatt hours worldwide. For comparison: The Gösgen nuclear power plant in Switzerland produces around eight terawatt hours of electricity in one year.
Nevertheless, CO₂ emissions continue to grow
Despite this, the IEA warns that energy-related emissions are on an “unsustainable growth path” and are further driving climate change.
Energy-related emissions are greenhouse gases that result from the conversion of energy sources such as coal, oil or natural gas. These emissions account for more than three quarters of greenhouse gas emissions.
Companies should take responsibility
IEA Director Fatih Birol called on companies that use fossil fuels to take their share of the responsibility in the fight against climate change. These companies are currently making record sales.
Therefore: “It is crucial that they review their strategies to ensure that they are geared towards meaningful emissions reductions,” stressed Birol.
Lifting of the corona measures as a driver
In 2021, global CO₂ emissions had increased by six percent to the then record value of 36.3 billion tons. The large increase at that time is mainly due to the restart of the global economy after the 2020 pandemic measures.
And because pandemic measures such as lockdowns were in force in many places in China last year, the CO₂ emissions of the world‘s largest emitter did not increase in 2022 compared to 2021.
Paris climate goals a long way off
This is also one reason why the increase in 2022 was comparatively moderate at 0.9 percent compared to 2021 – albeit still much too high to achieve the Paris climate goals.
These provide for a limitation of the temperature increase as a result of climate change by “well below two degrees”. This requires a rapid and massive reduction in global CO₂ emissions.