Energy sector CO2 emissions hit record high in 2022, study finds

Greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector hit new records last year and the sector is moving in the 'opposite' direction of Paris climate accord commitments, a study warns on Monday . “Global consumption of primary energy (naturally available, without transformation, editor’s note) increased by around 1% in 2022, which represents an increase of almost 3% compared to pre-Covid levels in 2019”, notes Energy. Institute, an industry organization, in this study conducted in cooperation with consultancies KPMG and Kearney.

Fossil fuels remain largely dominant, and represent 82% of the total energy consumed, despite the rise in strength of renewables, specifies this annual study. CO2 emissions from energy use, industrial processes, flaring (the act of burning the gases produced by pumping oil, editor's note) and methane increased by 0.8% last year and reached "of new records", continues the study. Renewables benefited in 2022 from the “largest increase in solar and wind power generation capacity”, to jointly achieve “a record 12% share of electricity generation”.

On the transport side, demand for fuel continued to rebound last year compared to its post-Covid level, but with China as the brake, the world's second largest oil consumer having been plagued by a zero covid policy which has largely hampered the movement of its inhabitants.

“In 2022, we have seen some of the worst consequences of climate change, with devastating floods affecting millions in Pakistan, record heat in Europe and North America, and despite this it is hard to find progress in the energy transition", deplored Juliet Davenport, the president of the EI. “Despite strong growth in wind and solar electricity generation, greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector have increased again,” she added. “We are still going against what is required by the Paris climate agreement” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, she insisted, with the report calling for “urgent action to correct the shot.