Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions were flat for a third straight year in 2016 even as the world economy grew, according to the latest estimates from the International Energy Agency. The findings signal a continuing decoupling of global emissions and economic activity, IEA said, noting that the drivers behind this decoupling include market forces, technology cost reductions, and concerns about climate change and air pollution.
“While the pause in emissions growth is positive news to improve air pollution, it is not enough to put the world on a path to keep global temperatures from rising above 2°C.,” IEA reported.
Global emissions from the energy industry stood at 32.1 gigatonnes last year, the same as the previous 2 years. The global economy, meanwhile, grew 3.1%, estimates IEA.
CO2 emissions declined in the US and China—the world’s two largest energy users and emitters—and were stable in Europe, offsetting increases in most of the rest of the world, IEA said.
The biggest drop came from the US where CO2 emissions fell 3%, or 160 million tonnes, while the economy grew by 1.6%. “The decline was driven by a surge in shale gas supplies and more attractive renewable power that displaced coal,” IEA said.
Emissions in the US in 2016 were at their lowest level since 1992, a period during which the economy grew 80%, IEA said.
“These 3 years of flat emissions in a growing global economy signal an emerging trend and that is certainly a cause for optimism, even if it is too soon to say that global emissions have definitely peaked,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
