IEA (International Energy Agency) reported that global energy-related CO2 emissions grew by 0.9% or 321 Mt in 2022, reaching a new high of over 36.8 Gt, as shown in figure 1. Following two years of exceptional oscillations in energy use and emissions, caused in part by the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022’s growth was much slower than 2021’s rebound of more than 6%. Emissions from energy combustion increased by 423 Mt, while emissions from industrial processes decreased by 102 Mt.
In a year marked by energy price shocks, rising inflation, and disruptions to traditional fuel trade flows, global growth in emissions was lower than feared, despite gas-to-coal switching in many countries. Increased deployment of clean energy technologies such as renewables, electric vehicles, and heat pumps helped prevent an additional 550 Mt in CO2 emissions.
Industrial production curtailment, particularly in China and Europe, also averted additional emissions.
Figure 1: Global CO2 emissions from energy combustion and industrial processes, 1900-2022
Of the 321 Mt CO2 increase in 2022, 60 Mt CO2 can be attributed to cooling and heating demand in extreme weather and another 55 Mt CO2 to nuclear power plants being offline.
CO2 growth in 2022 was well below global GDP growth of 3.2%, reverting to a decade-long trend of decoupling emissions and economic growth that was broken by 2021’s sharp rebound in emissions. Improvements in the CO2 intensity of energy use were slightly slower than the past decade’s average.
Figure 2 shows the global CO2 emissions by sectors. The biggest sectoral increase in emissions in 2022 came from electricity and heat generation, whose emissions were up by 1.8% or 261 Mt. In particular, global emissions from coal-fired electricity and heat generation grew by 224 Mt or 2.1%, led by emerging economies in Asia.
Figure 2: Global CO2 emissions by sector, 2019-2022
Figure 3 shows the changes in CO2 emissions by country or regions such as China, Europe, North America and rest of the world in 2021-2022. China’s emissions were relatively flat in 2022, declining by 23 Mt or 0.2%. Growing emissions from combustion were offset by declines from industrial processes. Weaker economic growth, declining construction activity, and strict Covid-19 measures led to reductions in industrial and transport emissions. Power sector emissions growth slowed compared with the average of the past decade but still reached 2.6%.
Figure 3: Change in CO2 emissions by region, 2021-2022
The European Union saw a 2.5% or 70 Mt reduction in CO2 emissions despite oil and gas market disruptions, hydro shortfalls due to drought, and numerous nuclear plants going offline. Buildings sector emissions fell markedly, helped by a mild winter. Although power sector emissions increased by 3.4%, coal use was not as high as anticipated. For the first time, electricity generation from wind and solar PV combined exceeded that of gas or nuclear.
US emissions grew by 0.8% or 36 Mt. The buildings sector saw the highest emissions growth, driven by extreme temperatures. The main emissions reductions came from electricity and heat generation, thanks to unprecedented increases in solar PV and wind, as well as coal-to-gas switching. While many other countries reduced their natural gas use, the United States saw an increase of 89 Mt in CO2 emissions from gas, as it was called upon to meet peak electricity demand during summer heat waves.
Emissions from Asia’s emerging market and developing economies, excluding China, grew more than those from any other region in 2022, increasing by 4.2% or 206 Mt CO2. Over half of the region’s increase in emissions came from coal-fired power generation.
IEA（国际能源署）报告称，全球与能源相关的二氧化碳排放量在 2022 年增长了 0.9% 或 3.21亿吨，达到超过 36.8 吉吨 (368亿吨) 的新高，如图 1 所示。经过 两年的部分由Covid-19大流行所引起的能源使用和排放的异常振荡 ，2022年的CO2的增长远低于2021年超过6%的反弹。 能源燃烧的排放量增加了 4.23 亿吨，而工业过程的排放量减少了 1.02 亿吨。
在能源价格冲击、通胀上升和传统燃料贸易流动中断的一年中，尽管许多国家从天然气转向煤炭，但全球排放量增长低于人们担心的水平。 可再生能源、电动汽车和热泵等清洁能源技术的更多部署帮助防止了额外 5.5 亿吨的二氧化碳排放。
工业减产，特别是在中国和欧洲，也避免了额外的排放。
图 1：1900-2022 年全球能源燃烧和工业过程产生的二氧化碳排放量
在 2022 年增加的 3.21 亿吨 CO2 中，6 千万吨 CO2 可归因于极端天气下的制冷和供暖需求，另外 5.5 千万吨 CO2 归因于核电站停运。
2022 年的 CO2 增长远低于 3.2% 的全球 GDP 增长，恢复了长达十年的排放与经济增长脱钩趋势，该趋势被 2021 年排放量的大幅反弹所打破。 能源使用的二氧化碳排放强度的改善略低于过去十年的平均水平。
图 2 显示了全球各行业的二氧化碳排放量。 2022 年排放量增幅最大的部门来自电力和热力，其排放量增加了 1.8% 或 2.61 亿吨。特别是，由亚洲新兴经济体领头， 全球燃煤发电和热力发电的排放量增长了 2.24 亿吨 或 2.1%。
图 2：2019-2022 年全球各行业二氧化碳排放量
图3显示了2021-2022年中国、欧洲、北美和世界其他地区等国家或地区的二氧化碳排放量变化。 中国的排放量在 2022 年相对持平，下降了 2300万吨或 0.2%。 燃烧产生的排放量增加被工业过程排放量的减少所抵消。 经济增长疲软、建筑活动减少以及严格的 Covid-19 措施导致工业和交通排放量减少。 与过去十年的平均水平相比，电力行业的排放增长有所放缓，但仍达到 2.6%。
图 3：2021-2022 年各地区二氧化碳排放量变化
2022 年， 尽管石油和天然气市场扰断、干旱导致水电短缺以及大量核电站停产，但欧盟的二氧化碳排放量减少了 2.5% 或 7000 万吨。 得益于温和的冬季，建筑部门的排放量显着下降。 尽管电力部门的排放量增加了 3.4%，但煤炭使用量没有预期的那么高。 风能和太阳能光伏发电的总和首次超过天然气或核能。
美国的排放量增长了 0.8% 或 3600 万吨。在极端温度的推动下，建筑行业的排放量增长最快。 由于太阳能光伏和风能以及煤改气的空前增长，主要的减排量来自电力和热力生产。 虽然许多其他国家/地区减少了天然气的使用，但美国的天然气二氧化碳排放量因为要满足夏季热浪期间的电力需求高峰增加了8900 万吨。
2022 年，亚洲新兴市场和发展中经济体（不包括中国）的排放量增幅超过任何其他地区，增幅为 4.2% 或 2.06 亿吨二氧化碳。 该地区一半以上的排放增量来自燃煤发电。
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