Rising consumption in China, India and the United States could bring global carbon demand to a new all-time high this year, undermining efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday that global coal production is expected to reach 10.350 terawatt hours in 2021 - up 9% - due to the rapid economic recovery that "raised electricity demand much faster than they could to cope with low-carbon supplies ".
Total demand for coal, including industries such as cement and steel, is expected to grow by 6% this year. Although it will not exceed record consumption levels in 2013 and 2014, it could reach an all-time high next year, the IEA said in a report.
IOC Executive Director Fatih Birol said the increase was "a worrying sign of how far people have come in trying to bring emissions to 'zero'."
China accounts for more than half of global coal production and is expected to grow 9% by 2021, according to the IEA. In India, respectively, an increase of 12% is forecast this year.
Reducing coal use was the main topic of discussion and debate at the Glasgow Climate Talks (COP26) last month, with countries finally agreeing to "gradually reduce" consumption as part of their efforts to maintain global growth. of the temperature as close as possible to 1,5 degrees Celsius.
China has already pledged to start reducing coal consumption, but will only do so after 2025, giving contractors significant room to further increase their production capacity over the next four years.