This year, global coal consumption is probably higher than ever. The International Energy Agency expects a decline in the coming years. Is that enough to achieve climate goals?
According to estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand for coal is higher than ever this year. The IEA in Paris announced that it is expected to rise by 1.4 percent and exceed the 8.5 billion tonne mark for the first time.
However, due to the increasing spread of renewable energy sources such as wind and sun, experts expect a decline in climate-damaging energy sources of 2.3 percent by 2026. It is the first time ever that the IEA has predicted falling coal consumption.
According to the agency, there are big differences in developments this year between industrialized and emerging countries: there is likely to be a record decline of around 20 percent in the USA and the EU. “Demand in emerging and developing countries, however, remains very high,” said the IEA. It expects an increase of 8 percent in India and 5 percent in China. Demand there is increasing because more electricity is being generated and hydroelectric power plants are providing less energy.
According to the IEA, coal is still the most important energy source for electricity generation, steel and cement production – and the largest man-made source of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Despite the expected decline, experts assume that coal consumption will continue to be well over 8 billion tons per year up to and including 2026. According to the IEA, consumption would actually have to fall significantly faster in order to meet the goals agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Communication study
Source: Stern
