Emissions reach new high, but growth slows

Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions grew 1.1% in 2023, increasing by 410-million tonnes (Mt). This propelled total emissions to a new record of 37.4-billion tonnes.

However, due to the rapid adoption of renewable energy sources, the rate at which emissions increased slowed from the 1.3% (490Mt) rise in 2022 despite stronger growth in energy demand.

According to the new CO2 emissions report for 2023 from the International Energy Agency (IEA), emissions from the electricity sector would have declined in 2023 were it not for the global shortfall in hydropower generation caused by droughts in countries such as China and the US.

This deficit drove up fossil fuel consumption and related emissions by about 170Mt.

“Clean energy is at the heart of this slowdown in emissions. Global capacity additions of wind and solar PV reached a record almost 540GW [added] in 2023, up 75% on … 2022.”

Global sales of electric cars climbed 35% from 2022 to about 14-million.

Emissions of CO2 by advanced economies dropped to a 50year low and their coal demand fell back to levels not seen since the early 1900s.

Energy-related emissions in the EU were down 9% and US emissions dropped 4%.

According to the IEA, this was driven by a combination of strong deployment of renewables, coal-to-gas switching, energy efficiency improvements and softer industrial production.

“Last year was the first in which at least half of electricity generation in advanced economies came from low-emissions sources such as renewables and nuclear,” the report said.

Renewables alone contributed a 34% share of electricity generation, while coal’s share was 17%.

CHINA

The drop in emissions in these advanced economies was, however, overshadowed by the surge from China and India, which continue to increase fossil-fuelled generation capacity to support economic growth.

China’s CO2 emissions increased about 5% to 12.6-billion tonnes. But according to the IEA China has also been the global leader in renewable energy rollout, accounting for 60% of new solar, wind power and electric vehicles added globally in 2023.

India’s emissions increased 7% to 2.8-billion tonnes.

The IEA report did not provide emissions figures for SA, but according to the most recent National Greenhouse Gas Inventory report published by the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment last year, SA saw a 0.8% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2020 to 442Mt.

As part of its global climate commitments, SA aims to reduce emissions to between 350Mt and 420Mt by 2030.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, said the report showed that the clean energy transition was “continuing apace and reining in emissions”. But, he added, greater efforts were needed to “enable emerging and developing economies to ramp up clean energy investment”.