As the Group of 20 nations convenes for a summit in India this week, new research reveals a concerning trend in per capita CO2 emissions from coal-fired power within the bloc. As per the data released by the environmental research group Ember, G20 member nations have collectively increased their per capita emissions from coal by nearly 7% since 2015, raising alarm bells for climate advocates worldwide.
Ember's findings show that, while some nations have made progress in transitioning to cleaner energy sources, others are lagging behind, resulting in a significant overall increase in coal-related emissions.
G20 countries collectively account for a staggering 80% of global power sector emissions. In 2022, per capita CO2 emissions from coal power in these nations averaged 1.6 tons, up from 1.5 tons in 2015. This figure is notably higher than the global average, which stands at 1.1 tons per capita.
China, the world's largest coal consumer and a major contributor to CO2 emissions, saw a concerning 30% increase in per capita emissions from coal since 2015, with levels reaching 3.1 tons in 2022. Despite China's ambitious goals to reduce coal consumption, these measures are not set to take effect until the 2026-2030 planning period. In the meantime, China has continued to approve and construct new coal-fired power plants, with a combined capacity of 243 gigawatts, equivalent to the power needs of Germany.
India, another G20 member, also experienced a substantial rise in per capita emissions from its coal sector, increasing by 29% over the same period to 0.8 tons in 2022.
Dave Jones, one of the authors of Ember's report, commented on the findings, saying;
"China and India are often blamed as the world's big coal power polluters. But when you take population into account, South Korea and Australia were the worst polluters still in 2022."
Australia, despite having reduced per capita emissions from coal by more than a quarter since 2015, still maintains a concerning figure of over 4 tons per capita. South Korea, on the other hand, has witnessed a nearly 10% reduction in per capita emissions, but it remains the second-highest emitter within the G20 at 3.3 tons per capita.
Jones emphasized the need for mature economies like South Korea and Australia to accelerate their transition to renewable energy sources, stating;
"As mature economies, they should be scaling up renewable electricity ambitiously and confidently enough to enable coal to be phased out by 2030."
This report comes on the heels of the last G20 summit in July, where countries failed to reach an agreement to enhance their climate change commitments, with some attributing the deadlock to China's resistance to certain provisions.
As the world grapples with the urgent need to combat climate change, the rising per capita CO2 emissions from coal within the G20 serve as a stark reminder that concerted efforts and international cooperation are essential to mitigate the environmental consequences of coal usage and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
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