Rise in global power demand increases carbon emissions

Rising demand in  global electricity outpaced growth in clean electricity, which led to an increase in coal power, raising CO2 emissions in the first half of 2021, said the London-based environmental think tank Ember.

Ember said that the global power sector emissions rebounded in the first half of 2021, increasing by 12 percent; hence, the emissions increased by 5 percent above the pre-pandemic levels.

Global electricity demand increased by 5 percent in the first half of 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels, which was mostly met by wind and solar power by 57 percent but also an increase in emissions-intensive coal power by 43 percent  that caused the rise in carbon emissions.

“China was responsible for 90 percent of the world’s increase in electricity demand and 43% of the world’s increase in wind and solar during this period,” said Ember, adding that China “needs to urgently” increase its energy transition.

The report said that no country has yet ‘green recovery’ for their power sector, with structural change in both higher electricity demand and lower CO2 power sector emissions.