In 2023, the global use of fossil fuels was higher than it has ever been, while global emissions and temperature levels also advanced to record highs. The source: the 73rd edition of the Statistical Review of World Energy. The review, bearing little good news, was released in June.
“Energy has always been and remains central to human achievement and progress,” the report reads. “It is also, increasingly, central to our very survival. With global temperature increases averaging near to 1.5 degrees C, 2023 was the warmest year since records began, and the increasingly severe impacts of climate change were felt across all continents.”
Canada is no outlier. In the last year alone, the summer of 2023 was the warmest on record in the country, and the winter of 2023-2024 was the warmest since 1948, 5.2 degrees higher than the average from 1961-1990. And over recent days, the interior of British Columbia has again endured record-breaking heat (while our American neighbours have suffered under an intense heat dome).
The Review of World Energy reveals that in 2023, fossil fuels accounted for an astonishingly large portion of the energy used globally at 84%. Total energy consumption increased about 2% over the previous year. Over the last decade, the Global South, primarily the Asia Pacific, has increasingly consumed more energy than the Global North.
In North America and Europe oil consumption was little changed in 2023, while in the Asia Pacific it grew by over 5%. The latter region, particularly China and India, dominates global coal usage. China, alone, accounted for 56% of coal consumption, while demand has fallen in North America and Europe over the last decade. Global natural gas consumption has stagnated since 2019.
Global solar and wind capacity continued to grow rapidly, at 67% in 2023, but still represented a relatively small share of total energy consumption. China was responsible for a large portion of the growth. Coal and other fossil fuels produced about 60% of electricity.
Global GHG emissions increased about 2% in 2023. Emissions are a massive 46% higher than they were in 2000. In concert with the rapidly rising oil and coal usage in the Asia Pacific, emissions are growing particularly strongly. China produced more CO2 emissions in 2023 than the next four highest countries combined, according to International Energy Agency data.
What all of the numbers tell us is that developed countries’ efforts to reduce their domestic coal and oil consumption and GHG emissions have failed spectacularly to achieve reductions at the global level, and that a global, along with a domestic, perspective is imperative. Emissions are not confined within the country in which they are produced, and climate change knows no borders.
Developed nations must enable the reduction of global emissions. Developed countries must assist China and developing nations to reduce reliance on coal in particular, and apply pressure on them to do so. “Coal accounted for around 70% of the increase in global emissions from energy combustion in 2023,” crucially notes the IEA.
Our sole focus in Canada and other developed nations on our domestic emissions is misplaced. Natural gas is by far the lowest emitting of the carbon fuels. By restricting production of natural gas and LNG, Canada and other producers may make marginal improvements in domestic emissions, but are forcing developing economies to use carbon-intensive coal to generate electricity.
Both natural gas and renewable energy are necessary to securely generate electricity. The irregular supply of renewable energy can be balanced by the stable supply of natural gas and LNG. Nuclear, another stable energy source, has a role to play too.
The Canadian federal government contributed to the increase of global emissions by actively turning away the leaders of several countries seeking access to Canadian LNG. So has B.C.’s Eby government by imposing new environmental restrictions on LNG production.
The B.C. NDP deferred its contentious proposal to grant land use authority to first nations of the province. Implementation of that plan would raise barriers to the development of natural gas, LNG and all resources. There is a significant risk the NDP will revive the proposal if it wins the next election. That action will likely increase emissions elsewhere, and will be highly divisive at home.
Instead, the NDP government should redouble its efforts to support the investment of Indigenous peoples and companies in responsible resource development. The private sector, along with the B.C. economy, will profit with more development. Indigenous communities deserve to as well.
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Bruce Uzelman, based in Kelowna, holds interests in British Columbia history as wells as current political and economic issues.
Bruce had a career in small business, primarily restaurant and retail. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Advanced from the University of Saskatchewan, with Majors in Political Science and Economics.
Contact: urban.general@outlook.com
