IEA Predicts 1% Increase in Energy Consumption in 2022, But Still Not Enough To Meet Emissions Target

International Energy Agency research indicates that although global carbon dioxide emissions are indeed increasing, they may have peaked.

Rise up of CO2 emissions

(Photo : SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Image)

Energy-related CO2 emissions, which are by far the largest source of emissions, grew by less than 1% in 2022. This was in spite of the chaos that Russia's invasion of Ukraine generated on the energy markets, as per The Guardian.

The increase is less than the 6% jump in energy-related emissions that the IEA reported in 2021. That increase was brought on by the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, in order to achieve the target of reducing emissions this decade, a decrease of 7% must be made per year.

Since coal produces far higher carbon emissions than gas, many analysts worried that the rising price of gas would force nations to switch back to utilizing it.

Yet, it appears that the use of renewable energy has greatly benefited, as governments have chosen to use solar and wind energy and have promoted the use of heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs).

If the globe is to have a good chance of staying under the 1.5C limit, emissions must decrease by almost half in this decade, according to scientists.

The impact of the energy crisis did not lead to the significant increase in global emissions that was initially anticipated, according to Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, the world's preeminent organization for energy research.

This is due to the outstanding growth of renewables, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and energy-efficient technologies. The increase in CO2 emissions would have been almost three times higher without clean energy.

The risks of exceeding a 1.5C rise, which could result in a series of catastrophic effects including melting of Arctic ice, the drying out of rainforests, and the release of methane, have become more evident since the Paris Agreement was signed, according to research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The IEA discovered that in 2022, worldwide energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 0.9%, or 321 million tons, hitting a record high of more than 36.8 billion tons.

Also Read: Researchers Promote Concrete that Absorbs CO2 For Sustainable Construction

Rising with sustainable development

To meet our needs for various forms of food, raw materials, fuel, etc., biodiversity is essential. However, sustainable use of natural resources refers to the right management of natural resources for the benefit of the entire human population, as per BYJU'S.

The basic objective of sustainable development is to meet the requirements of the present generation without risking those of the future.

Great deals about using electric vehicle

Comparing electric and hybrid vehicles to conventional ones can result in significant reductions in emissions. When operating in all-electric mode, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles don't emit any tailpipe emissions; neither do all-electric vehicles, as per U.S Department of Energy.

Depending on the vehicle model and hybrid power system type, Hybrid Electric Vehicles emissions benefits can vary.

The electricity source utilized to charge an electric car, which varies by region, affects the life cycle emissions of the vehicle.

Electric vehicles often offer a life cycle emissions advantage over comparable conventional vehicles operating on gasoline or diesel in geographic areas which use relatively low-polluting energy sources for the production of electricity.

Electric vehicles might not even show a significant reduction in life cycle emissions in areas where traditional electricity supply is strongly reliant. The Energy Sources and Emissions Tool can be used to compare fuel-cycle emissions by state and vehicle type.