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High emissions: coal-fired power plant near a city in China
Photo:
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
The recovery of the global economy from the consequences of the corona pandemic and increased burning of coal increased energy-related CO2 emissions to a record level last year.
As reported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, 36.3 billion tons of energy-related carbon dioxide equivalents were emitted worldwide in 2021 - more than ever before.
Compared to the previous year 2020, the increase was two billion tons or six percent.
The decline in CO₂ values that occurred at the beginning of the corona crisis was therefore more than offset.
Also, high natural gas prices led to more coal being burned, even as renewable power generation saw its fastest growth ever.
Despite increased coal consumption, renewable energy sources and nuclear power accounted for a larger share of global electricity generation than coal in 2021.
As the IEA data shows, China is largely responsible for the increase in global CO₂ emissions.
China was the only major economy to experience economic growth in both 2020 and 2021.
The increase in emissions in China more than offset the overall decrease in the rest of the world over the period.
In 2021 alone, China's emissions rose to over 11.9 billion tons, accounting for a third of the world's total emissions.
According to the IEA analysis, coal accounted for over 40 percent of the total growth in global CO₂ emissions in 2021, reaching an all-time high of 15.3 billion tons.
Emissions from natural gas rose well above 2019 levels to 7.5 billion tons.
At 10.7 billion tonnes, CO₂ emissions from oil remained well below pre-pandemic levels due to the limited recovery in global transport activity, mainly aviation.
Renewable power generation also differed: Wind and photovoltaic power increased, while hydroelectric power generation declined due to the effects of drought, particularly in the US and Brazil.
kig/dpa-AFX/afp