Global C02 Emissions Hit Record High in 2021

The world emitted the most C02 ever last year, despite increasing political urgency to dramatically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The International Atomic Energy’s annual emissions report found that carbon dioxide emissions rose by 6% in 2021 to a historical high of 36.3 billion tonnes.

The growth in emissions, according to the report, was driven primarily by economic recovery post-Covid and an increasing reliance upon coal because of high natural gas prices.

Some advanced industrial economies experienced small declines in their C02 emissions during the period, according to the agency, but this was more than offset by emissions growth in China and India.

Electricity demand grew in China grew by 10% in 2021, for instance, and coal powered generation plants fired up to meet more than half of the electricity demand. Meanwhile, in India, coal-powered generation grew 13% year on year to an all time high.

 “The numbers make clear that the global economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis has not been the sustainable recovery that IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol called for during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020,” wrote the agency in a statement. “The world must now ensure that the global rebound in emissions in 2021 was a one-off – and that an accelerated energy transition contributes to global energy security and lower energy prices for consumers.”

Last year’s COP26 summit saw countries strengthen their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the worst effects of climate change. Nearly 200 countries signed the agreement, which aims for deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

However, if the IEA’s most recent emissions report is anything to go by, significant work is still required to get anywhere close to those goals.