The demand for energy in 2018 causes climatic problems: IEA

PARIS: The increase in global energy demand of 2.3% last year exceeded the expansion of renewable energy and contributed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse, said the International Energy Agency (IEA), Tuesday, March 26.

Fossil fuels accounted for nearly 70% of this growth for the second year in a row, with natural gas accounting for 45% of the increase in energy consumption, according to the global report on CO2 emissions and emissions. Energy of the Agency.

Double-digit growth in solar and wind energy production – 31% for solar energy – was not yet fast enough to meet the growing demand for electricity, which also led to an increase in usage. coal, the most carbon-intensive fuel.

"We have seen an extraordinary increase in global energy demand in 2018, with the fastest growth of this decade," said Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA.

"But despite a significant growth in renewable energy, global emissions continue to increase, demonstrating once again that more urgent action is needed on all fronts" to combat climate change, he added.

Global energy-related CO2 emissions increased 1.7% to a record 33 billion tonnes last year compared to 2017, a year that also witnessed unprecedented levels of pollution. by carbon.

CO2 emissions in 2018 from coal used to produce electricity exceeded 10 billion tonnes for the first time, said Birol.

This energy came mainly from coal plants averaging twelve years, not even a quarter of their typical life.

This raises the question of whether their continued use – let alone the construction of new ones – is consistent with the 2015 Paris Climate Treaty, which aims to limit global warming to "well below" 2 ° C, and at 1.5 ° C if possible.

"FUEL" OF THE FUTURE

"Although it is not impossible, if we do not take into account emissions from coal-fired power plants in Asia, it will be extremely difficult to meet our climate goals," Birol told AFP.

The planet is currently about to heat up to about 4 ° C.

Global coal consumption in 2018 has only increased in Asia, particularly in China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia, the report says.

Another discouraging trend, given the efforts to control global warming, was the slowdown in energy efficiency gains, which reached 1.3% last year, which is half the rate of growth. 39, average improvement registered for the period 2014-2017.

Overall, CO2 emissions in 2018 have increased by 0.5% for every percentage point of global economic output, compared to an average increase of 0.3% since 2010.

The growth in global energy demand was mainly driven by a robust global economy and increased heating and cooling needs in some countries.

Demand for electricity – which the IEA has termed "fuel of the future" – grew by 4%, accounting for half of the overall growth in primary energy demand.

According to scientists, charging the atmosphere with greenhouse gases at current rates will lead to the creation of an inveterate planet.

In a report on electric shocks published in October, the UN's Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that only a profound transformation of the global economy and consumption patterns could prevent such a shift. climate catastrophe.

CO2 emissions must fall by 50% by 2030 – and reach the "net zero" by 2050 – if we want to control the temperature rise of the Earth at the safest limit of 1.5 ° C.