Toward the end of last year, Enerdata’s preliminary global CO2 emissions estimates for 2019 highlighted that China (29%), the USA (15%) and EU (10%) were on target to become the three largest emitters of the year.
• China’s emissions were expected to rise. An appetite for coal (making up 77% of its emissions) being largely responsible for its continued place at the top and reductions made by coal-to-gas switching in the power generation sector being offset by increased demand in the construction sector (for steel, cement and glass).
• The USA’s emissions were expected to drop. Cleaner, cheaper gas-fired plants and renewables offsetting coal consumption at a greater rate than increasing oil consumption in the petrochemical industry.
• The EU’s emissions were expected to drop. Increasing efforts to decarbonise have seen oil and coal consumption decrease. Increasing carbon prices and coal phase out policies with a preference for cleaner gas and renewable power are gradually pushing out coal.
Globally, natural gas and oil consumption continue to grow, whilst coal is seeing a welcome decline in a reverse from 2018 growth.
Ref: ‘Energy-related CO2 Emissions 2019 Estimates’ at Enerdata.net