The air we breathe is cleaner, thanks to electric cars and renewables

Despite concerns about the effects of both the current energy crisis and the Russian invasion of Ukraine on global carbon dioxide emissions, the increase recorded in 2022 was less than 1% compared to the same figure last year. To confirm this is theIEA (International Energy Agency), an organization based in Paris whose task is to collaborate with governments around the world to draw up strategies for sustainable development.

Numbers in hand, this year we have issued, globally, 33.8 billion tons of CO2; a still huge figure, but only 300 million more than what was issued in 2021year in which humanity produced 2 billion more emissions than the previous one. To mark the epochal reduction of climate-altering emissions is the ever greater adoption of electric vehicles and investments in renewable sourceswhich resulted in a clear detachment from the fossil.

According to the Organization, although the energy crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine did soaring global demand for coal, since natural gas has become considerably more expensive, the relatively small increase in emissions from this energy source has been considerably offset by the expansion of renewable energies. Russia’s actions also impacted the world economy, dampening expectations for economic growth, particularly in Europe.

“The global energy crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted many countries to use other energy sources to replace the natural gas supplies that Russia has withheld from the market. The encouraging news is that solar and wind power are on the rise. bridging much of the gap, with the increase in coal appearing to be relatively small and temporary “said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “This means that CO2 emissions are growing much less rapidly this year than some people feared and that government policy actions are driving real structural changes in the energy economy. These changes are set to accelerate thanks to major policy plans. for clean energy that have advanced around the world in recent months “.

Photovoltaics and wind are driving an increase in global renewable electricity production in 2022, of over 700 terawatt hours (TWh), the largest annual increase ever recordedwhich prevented global emissions exceeded those emitted in 2021 by more than 600 million tons. The two green energy sectors represent about two thirds of the growth of renewablesin addition to hydroelectricity which, despite the severe drought of 2022, it continues to increase per year, contributing over a fifth to sustainable sources.

According to the IEA, uncertainty about the natural gas market trend will continue to shape many key energy trends for the remainder of this year and into 2023. probably involving numerous uses of coal and oilbut on the other hand there are major and structural increases by the world’s largest economies in support of clean energylike the package Fit for 55 of the European Union and Japan’s Green Transformation (GX) plan, and ambitious renewables goals in China and India.

The effects of recent policies on energy security and global emissions trends will be deepened by World Energy Outlook 2022 of the IEA, published on October 27.