The latest report released by the International Energy Agency shows that the sector's greenhouse gas emissions increased less than 1% in 2022 as growth in clean energy sources helped limit the impacts of coal and oil use - amid the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The increase in emissions was significantly slower than last year's 3.2% global economic growth, signaling a return to a trend that was halted in 2021 by the rapid and intense economic recovery caused by the improved crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the report says.

According to the document, global emissions related to energy production increased by 0.9% in 2022 (or 321 million tons), reaching a total of 36.8 billion tons emitted into the atmosphere. "The impacts of the energy crisis have not generated the huge growth in emissions we feared, thanks to the remarkable growth of renewable energy, electric vehicles, heat pumps and energy efficiency technologies. Without this, co2 emissions growth would have been almost three times higher," commented IEA Director Fatih Birol.

The analysis also shows that emissions of 550 million tonnes of CO2 were avoided because of new low-carbon energy infrastructure. Last year, renewable sands accounted for 90 percent of electricity production growth, the IEA says.

While last year's increase in emissions was much lower than the 6% recorded in 2021 - with the return of many activities after the worst year of the pandemic - emissions still remain on a "path of unsustainable growth," requiring stronger action to accelerate the energy transition and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change,  states the agency.

Emissions from coal burning grew by 1.6%, with many countries turning to polluting fuel after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and a reduction in Russian gas supplies to Europe, the document shows. As for oil, the increase was 2.5%, remaining below pre-pandemic levels. About half of these emissions were because of the increase in air travel, which is recovering from a drop during the pandemic.

The report comes just weeks after major fossil fuel producers such as Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Shell posted record profits, and BP talked about reviewing plans to cut oil and gas production and reduce emissions, Reuters reports.

"International and national fossil fuel companies are earning record revenues and must assume their responsibility, consistent with public climate commitments. They should review strategies to ensure that emissions are effectively reduced," Birol said.

Source: Um só Planeta