Background:
Globally, the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions are electricity and heat (31%), agriculture (11%), transportation (15%), forestry (6%) and manufacturing (12%). Energy production of all types accounts for 72 percent of all emissions …CO2 accounts for about 76 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. - C2ES – the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, accessed July 9, 2020
Good News:
After two years of growth, global emissions were unchanged at 33 gigatonnes in 2019 even as the world economy expanded by 2.9%. This was primarily due to declining emissions from electricity generation in advanced economies, thanks to the expanding role of renewable sources (mainly wind and solar), fuel switching from coal to natural gas, and higher nuclear power generation…Across advanced economies, emissions from the power sector declined to levels last seen in the late 1980s, when electricity demand was one-third lower than today. - “Defying expectations of a rise, global carbon dioxide emissions flatlined in 2019”/ International Energy Agency (IEA) February 11, 2020
Good-Bad News:
Bad News:
In 2019, coal consumption continued to increase in some emerging countries, particularly in China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Global coal production rose by 1.5% in 2019, with China and Indonesia providing the only significant increases. These countries are all part of the Asia Pacific region (population: 4.3 billion), which is responsible for the lion’s share of coal consumption and production.
Future Directions:
The UN, NGOs, Europe and the US need to put more pressure on China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam to reduce their emissions and dependence on coal. Carrots, sticks, whatever works. Otherwise, whatever progress advanced nations make in emissions reduction will be rendered meaningless by lack of progress in the Asia Pacific region.