This is what we learn from a report by the Energy Institute, which compiles annual statistics with lessons that run counter to the commitments set for the climate.
The objective is simple, clear: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We learn that the biggest polluters – namely companies in the energy sector – did not reduce their emissions last year, but they increased them: +0.8% in 2022. This is a new record.
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This increase in carbon dioxide emissions is linked in particular to industrial processes, to what is called flaring. It is the fact of burning the gases that are produced to make energy by pumping oil. It is also due to methane concentrations.
There is still some good news to note in this report: solar, wind and hydraulic continue to grow. The share of electricity from renewable energies has never been so high, with 12% of total production in 2022, compared to 10% in 2021.
We are moving away from the initial objective
This growth is largely due to China: the world’s leading polluter has set itself the goal of doubling its wind and solar energy capacity by 2025 to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement on the climate. Which would be really good news, if the country didn’t burn half of the coal used in the world every year to run its economy. Despite this improvement, fossil fuels are doing well and even remain largely dominant. They represent 82% of the total energy consumed.
We are therefore still far from the objectives set by the Paris agreements. We can even say that we are moving away from it is alarmed Juliette Davenport, the president of the Energy Institute at the origin of this report. “We’re going, she says, always in the opposite direction to that required by the Paris agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C”.
These data are the proof, according to her, that the promises, the political commitments are not followed by effects, not yet, or not enough, at the global level. They must call for a “urgent action” to correct the situation.