- Global energy demand surges
- Surpasses pre-pandemic levels
- 61% global electricity sourced from fossil fuels in 2020
According to the report by the environmental think tank, Ember, the global electricity demand has risen past the pre-pandemic levels. According to a research by Ember, electricity and carbon emissions rose by 5% from the pre-pandemic period.
61% of electricity consumed in 2020 were sourced from fossil fuels, the research found. The research also found that the G20 nations consumed 75% of electricity from fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia supplied 100% from fossils while South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico and Australia supplied 89%, 83%, 75% and 75% respectively from fossil fuels.
On the other hand, coal generation recorded a 4% drop in 2020, with China generating 53% of its electricity from coal and Asia generating 77% of electricity from coal.
According to Ember Lead Analyst Dave Jones, ”Progress is nowhere near fast enough. Despite coal’s record drop during the pandemic, it still fell short of what is needed. Coal power needs to collapse by 80% by 2030 to avoid dangerous levels of warming above 1.5 degrees. We need to build enough clean electricity to simultaneously replace coal and electrify the global economy. World leaders have yet to wake up to the enormity of the challenge.”