Carbon dioxide emissions from energy hit a global record high last year, but rose more slowly than expected thanks to rapid growth in renewable energy as a result of the energy crisis caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The record 36.8bn tonnes of carbon emissions in 2022 was a rise of just under 1 per cent, the International Energy Agency said in its latest report. This compares with a rise of 6 per cent the previous year following a rebound in economic activity after coronavirus pandemic lockdowns eased.
In Europe, carbon emissions fell by 2.5 per cent in 2022. The IEA said Europe benefited from record levels of renewable energy and power-saving measures caused by the fall in gas supplies from Russia, helped by the second-warmest start to winter in the last 30 years.