UPSC Express

Headline : India’s carbon dioxide emissions up 5%

Details :

Topic in News

Global Energy and CO2 Status Report of International Energy Agency

News Summary

• According to Global Energy and CO2 Status Report released by IEA, the global energy demand increased by 2.3% in 2018.
• As a result the energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 1.7% to 33 gigatonnes in 2018.

In focus: Global Energy and CO2 Status Report, 2019

Global energy trends

Demand

• Global energy consumption increased by 2.3%.
• China, the United States, and India together accounted for nearly 70% of the rise in energy demand.
• India saw primary energy demand increase 4% accounting for 11% of global growth.
• Growth in India was led by coal (for power generation) and oil (for transport), the first and second biggest contributors to energy demand growth, respectively.

Sector-wise energy demand

• Power generation accounts for largest share of energy demand (about 50%), followed by transportation.
• About 1/5th of the global energy demand came from higher demand for heating and cooling systems due to climate change.

Contribution

• Fossils met nearly 70% of the growth in energy.
• Natural gas contributed for 45% of the energy growth. (due to strong demand in US and China)
• Solar contributed to 31% of the energy growth.
• Coal-fired power plants contributed 35% of the energy demand
• Oil demand grew 1.3% worldwide.
• Nuclear also grew by 3.3% in 2018 with new additions in China and the restart of four reactors in Japan.

Emissions

• The global energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 1.7% to 33 Gigatonnes (Gt) in 2018.
• China, India, and the United States accounted for 85% of the net increase in emissions
• Emissions declined for Germany, Japan, Mexico, France and the United Kingdom

Contribution

• Power sector accounted for nearly two-thirds of emissions growth.
• CO2 emission from coal combustion was responsible for over 0.3°C of the 1°C increase in global temperatures over pre-industrial levels.
• Thus coal is the single largest source of global temperature increase.

Country-wise emissions

• India saw the largest rise in CO2 emissions with 4.8% over last year.
• CO2 emissions in China grew by 2.5%
• US saw an emissions rise of 3.1%.
• Europe and Japan actually saw a dip in emissions.
• India contributes to 7% to the global carbon dioxide burden.
• USA is the largest emitter responsible for 14% of global emissions

Note: The important data from the report is collated for use in mains examination wherever appropriate.