Energy-related CO2 emissions will never be as high as in 2023

Despite the commitments, CO2 emissions related to the energy sector set a new record in 2023, reaching 37.4 billion tonnes.

There are promises, commitments, speeches.And then there are the facts.Friday 1 March, theInternational Energy Agency has published data relating to emissions of greenhouse gases caused by the energy sector globally.Despite the clear need to reduce the quantity of CO2, methane and other gases that are dispersed into the atmosphere, the overall figure is recorded an increase of 1.1 percent, in 2023, compared to the previous year.

Chinese growth and the decline in hydroelectric power (caused by the climate) weigh on it

According to the international body, it was above all the Chinese economic growth and the decline in production hydroelectric production.The latter is due in particular to widespread waves of drought, which have made it difficult to exploit this type of energy: a vicious circle powered directly by climate warming.

The data is particularly worrying if we consider that those related to energy represent approximately 90 percent of the total global emissions of anthropogenic origin.In absolute terms, the increase was equal to 410 million tons, which brings the overall figure to 37.4 billion tons in a year.The only element of hope:the growth was less marked than that of 2022, when the value increased by 490 million tonnes.

Emissions must fall by 43 percent by 2030

These are data that clash with the trajectory which should be followed to limit the growth of the global average temperature to a maximum of 1.5 degrees centigrade, between now and the end of the century, compared to pre-industrial levels.According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Ipcc), it would in fact be necessary to reduce global emissions (in all sectors) of 43 percent, by 2030, if we want to achieve this goal.And, to do this, you will need to reach a peak emissions by 2025.

The hope is that the growth of energy production from renewable sources may be strong enough to bring the world back on the right path.However, time is running out:to guarantee humanity the necessary acceleration they are needed public policies, investments, awareness raising by governments and the private sector.