Carbon emissions to soar in 2021 by second highest rate in history

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Carbon emissions to soar in 2021 by second highest rate in history

Global economies forecast to pour stimulus money into fossil fuels as part of Covid recovery

Fiona Harvey Environment correspondent
Tue 20 Apr 2021 06.00 BST

Carbon dioxide emissions are forecast to jump this year by the second biggest annual rise in history, as global economies pour stimulus cash into fossil fuels in the recovery from the Covid-19 recession.

The leap will be second only to the massive rebound 10 years ago after the financial crisis, and will put climate hopes out of reach unless governments act quickly, the International Energy Agency has warned.

Surging use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, for electricity is largely driving the emissions rise, especially across Asia but also in the US. Coal’s rebound causes particular concern because it comes despite plunging prices for renewable energy, which is now cheaper than coal.

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian, Fatih Birol, the executive director of the IEA, and one of the world’s leading authorities on energy and climate, said: “This is shocking and very disturbing. On the one hand, governments today are saying climate change is their priority. But on the other hand, we are seeing the second biggest emissions rise in history. It is really disappointing.”

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/20/carbon-emissions-to-soar-in-2021-by-second-highest-rate-in-history

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Related: Global Energy Review 2021 (International Energy Agency)

[Loki Liesmith]

1. This was inevitable

Economic activity went off a cliff last year. As economic activity ramps up one has to expect carbon to do the same until we decouple our economy from it more.

Maybe we will beat expectations slightly which would be a promising sign.

[NNadir]

2. Really? So called "renewable energy" is cheaper than coal?

Is that when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, which real data shows renders electricity worthless, or is it true on dark windless nights when fossil fuel plants recover their capital costs and operating costs because for part of the day electricity is worthless?

Could requiring redundant infrastructure have something to do with it?

In spite of the FACT that Germany and Denmark have the highest electricity prices in the OECD, I keep hearing this nonsense year after year, decade after decade, which explains why we're racing to 420 ppm CO2 less than 10 years after hitting 400 ppm.

Here as everywhere, facts matter.

[abqtommy]

3. It's interesting that the same people who brought us runaway covid infections are also

bringing us runaway carbon emissions. We need to do something to change this
destructive and unhealthy pattern.