Environment

Energy-related CO2 emissions hit record high as the world counts on coal

View 3 Images
The world economy relied heavily on coal for electricity as it rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic
The world economy relied heavily on coal for electricity as it rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic
CO2 emissions from energy production hit record highs in 2021
IEA
CO2 emissions from coal hit record levels in 2021
IEA
View gallery - 3 images

Though the lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic led to some extreme dips in global carbon emissions, new analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has shown how insignificant they may be in the grand scheme of things. Global emissions from energy rose a record six percent in 2021, as the world leaned heavily on coal to bounce back from the economic crisis.

The dramatic decline in CO2 emissions seen in the early parts of 2020 as the pandemic took hold and ground many elements of society to a halt led some to hope the recovery would be a sustainable one. Renewable energy generation did in fact experience its largest ever growth last year, hitting a record high of more than 8,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) and combining with nuclear power to provide a larger share of global electricity generation than coal.

Despite this growth in renewables, coal remained a huge contributor to the massive growth seen in energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021, which hit 36.3 billion tonnes, the highest level on record. The observed increase of more than two billion tons is also the largest on record. This more than cancels out the decline seen related to the pandemic in the year previous, according to the IEA.

CO2 emissions from energy production hit record highs in 2021
IEA

The agency reports that 40 percent of that growth came from coal, which accounted for an all-time high of 15.3 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions. It says part of the reason for this were record high natural gas prices, leading to more coal being burned instead. Emissions from oil, meanwhile, remained well below their pre-pandemic levels, as the crisis continued to impact transportation through 2021, namely the aviation sector.

CO2 emissions from coal hit record levels in 2021
IEA

According to the IEA, the rebounding effect was mostly driven by China, which leaned heavily on the use of coal power to meet its electricity demands that grew 10 percent in 2021. This 700-TWh increase in demand is the country's largest ever, with its overall emissions surpassing 11.9 billion tonnes in 2021, which the agency says makes up 33 percent of the global total. China also had its largest ever increase in renewable power output in 2021.

Though we've seen momentary dips in global carbon emissions during the pandemic, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere only continues to rise. Record levels were reported in the midst of the pandemic's early stages in 2020, and again in 2021, indicating the fleeting declines have done little to slow the trend. Meanwhile, emissions of the particularly potent greenhouse gas, methane, also continue to rise.

"The world must now ensure that the global rebound in emissions in 2021 was a one-off – and that an accelerated energy transition contributes to global energy security and lower energy prices for consumers," the IEA said in a statement.

Source: IEA

View gallery - 3 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
8 comments
Catweazle
And yet a quick look at the Keeling Curve shows it hasn't made any perceptible difference to the trajectory of atmospheric CO2 concentration.
What does that indicate?
Aaron MacTurpen
But China signed the Paris agreement. So it's all good.
Gomer
Let's pass more "feel good" legislation in western countries that accomplish nothing except increasing prices and hurting the poor. And at the same time moving more production to countries with near non-existent environmental and horrid labor conditions to increase profit margins. Oh, and completely ignore the fuel wasted and pollution created just shipping crap around the world.
ljaques
Excellent. This will happily equalize the savings "we" got from closing down the world for two years.
Daishi
"A picture is worth 1000 words" The global pandemic and lockdown barely even dented the CO2 levels. In some countries the lockdown was brutally strict with everyone essentially being placed on house arrest. People stopped commuting to work and companies pretty much outright prohibited corporate travel and it still was not nearly enough. What policies are we going to pass to solve this problem when even COVID lockdown was nowhere close to where we need to be? It's hard for me to reflect on the state of things and hold much optimism for improvement.
Pat Kelley
Stop wasting time and money on wind and solar, and work on geothermal and flow of river hydroelectric generation, plus new technology nuclear power. Then we'll have steady, reliable clean energy that doesn't need fossil fuel backup generators like wind and solar.
TomLeeM
I read that during the time of the dinosaurs, there was a lot of CO2. I read that green house owners / farmers put CO2 into them to help plants to grow. I believe that CO2 is needed for plants to grow. I think getting rid of CO2 is not a good thing.
Catweazle
"I think getting rid of CO2 is not a good thing."
You are correct, TomLeeM.
Quos deus perdere, prius dementat.