Despite widespread expectations of another increase, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions stopped growing in 2019, according to the International Energy Agency.
Despite widespread expectations of another increase, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions stopped growing in 2019, according to the International Energy Agency.
After two years of growth, global emissions were unchanged at 33 gigatonnes in 2019 even as the world economy expanded by 2.9%. This was primarily due to declining emissions from electricity generation in advanced economies, thanks to the expanding role of renewable sources (mainly wind and solar), fuel switching from coal to natural gas, and higher nuclear power generation.
‘We now need to work hard to make sure that 2019 is remembered as a definitive peak in global emissions, not just another pause in growth,’ said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director. ‘We have the energy technologies to do this, and we have to make use of them all. The IEA is building a grand coalition focused on reducing emissions – encompassing governments, companies, investors and everyone with a genuine commitment to tackling our climate challenge.’
The US recorded the largest emissions decline with a fall of 140 million tonnes, or 2.9%. US emissions are now down by almost 1 gigatonne from their peak in 2000. Emissions in the European Union fell by 160 million tonnes, or 5%, in 2019 driven by reductions in the power sector. Natural gas produced more electricity than coal for the first time ever while wind-powered electricity nearly caught up with coal-fired electricity. Japan’s emissions fell by 45 million tonnes, or around 4%, the fastest pace of decline since 2009 as output from recently restarted nuclear reactors increased. Emissions in the rest of the world grew by close to 400 million tonnes in 2019, with almost 80% of the increase coming from countries in Asia where coal-fired power generation continued to rise.
‘This welcome halt in emissions growth is grounds for optimism that we can tackle the climate challenge this decade,’ said Dr Birol.
To support these objectives, the IEA will publish a World Energy Outlook Special Report in June that will map out how to cut global energy-related carbon emissions by one-third by 2030 and put the world on track for longer-term climate goals.
The agency will also hold an IEA Clean Energy Transitions Summit in Paris on 9 July, bringing together key government ministers and CEOs with the aim of accelerating the pace of change through ambitious and real-world solutions.
