The weather was a factor in global greenhouse gas emissions growing 2% last year, despite an over 14% rise in renewable power generation, according to a new report by BP.
The ‘2019 Statistical Review of World Energy’ said increased energy demand – rising 2.9% – mainly caused by the impact of the weather in major markets around the world led to the increase in emissions.
“There was an unusually large number of hot and cold days across many of the world’s major demand centres last year, particularly in the US, China and Russia, with the increased demand for cooling and heating services helping to explain the strong growth in energy consumption in each of these countries,” the report said.
BP added that to a large extent the increase in emissions – the fastest rate for seven years – was down to the increased energy demand.
It noted that, while renewables led the growth in power generation, rises in other areas – oil, gas and coal – meant the share of clean power in the energy mix remained flat.
Both non-fossil fuels (36%) and coal (38%) in 2018 were unchanged from the levels seen 20 years ago, the report said.
“A shift towards greater electrification helps as a pathway to a lower carbon energy system only if it goes hand-in-hand with a decarbonisation of the power sector,” it said.
“Electrification without decarbonising power is of little use.”
BP said China accounted for 45% of global growth in renewables generation in 2018, more than the whole of the OECD combined.
Overall, global power demand increased 3.7% last year, which BP said was one of the strongest growth rates for 20 years.
The developing world accounted for 81% of the growth, although there was also strong growth in the US last year, the report said.
BP group chief economist Spencer Dale (pictured) said: “At a time when society is increasing its demands for an accelerated transition to a low carbon energy system, the energy data for 2018 paint a worrying picture, with both energy demand and carbon emissions growing at the fastest rates seen for years.
“What does seem fairly clear is that the underlying picture is one in which the actual pace of progress is falling well short of the accelerated transition envisaged by the Paris climate goals.
“Last year’s developments sound yet another warning alarm that the world is on an unsustainable path.”