According to Reuters, the industry’s Statistical Review of World Energy report noted on Thursday that, despite fossil fuels’ minor decline in the global energy mix over the year, worldwide fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions reached all-time highs in 2023.
As global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius—beyond which scientists predict impacts like temperature rise, drought, and flooding will become more extreme—growing demand for fossil fuels despite the expansion of renewable energy sources may prove to be a roadblock in the shift to lower carbon energy.
Romain Debarre of the consulting firm Kearney stated, “We hope that this report will help governments, world leaders, and analysts move forward, clear-eyed about the challenge that lies ahead.”
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, last year was the first full year when Russian energy flows had been redirected away from the West. It was also the first full year without significant travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 epidemic.
According to the report, worldwide primary energy consumption reached a record high of 620 Exajoules, with CO2 emissions surpassing 40 gigatons for the first time.
“The share coming from fossil fuels has remained virtually unchanged in a year where we have seen the contribution of renewables reaching a new record high,” according to consultant Simon Virley of KPMG.
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