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Power Sector Emissions Jumped to Record as World Turned to Coal

Global carbon emissions from the power sector jumped to a record last year as the recovery from the pandemic boosted electricity demand and utilities burned more coal amid a gas crunch, think tank Ember said.

Emissions from generating power rose 7% from a year earlier, the biggest gain since 2010 and 3% above pre-Covid levels, according to analysis from the London-based climate think tank. The trend could continue this year as countries turn to coal -- the dirtiest fossil fuel -- amid high gas prices.

It’s a worrying sign for the world’s ability to meet commitments to cut emissions quickly enough this decade to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. The power sector has cheap renewable sources that should be able to partly replace fossil fuels. Yet the war in Ukraine is forcing Europe to tap all energy resources to diversify from Russian energy, and nations like India are also looking to tap more of their own coal to guard against high global prices.

“We still haven’t reached that step where the increase in electricity demand is being met with clean electricity,” said Dave Jones, a global electricity analyst at Ember. “Therefore, fossil generation is increasing. And that has been predominantly coal.”