25
May

China failed to meet its energy efficiency target for 2019

According to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China energy intensity, which measures the amount of energy needed to generate one unit of GDP, decreased by 2.6% in 2019, which was lower than the Chinese government target of 3% cut. The country felt short of its energy efficiency goals in 2019 due to the fast growth in the economic sector of steel, building materials, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, and the services. However, the NDRC also announced that the country carbon intensity (the amount of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP) decreased by 4.1% against a target of 3.6%. 

15
May

South Korea's ETS emissions dipped by 2% in 2019

Emissions under the South Korean emission trading scheme (ETS) have decreased by 2% in 2019 to 589 MtCO₂, representing the first drop since the ETS entered into operations in 2015. Emissions have been driven down by the power sector (-8.6%) to 245 Mt due to temporary shutdowns of coal-fired power plants combined with a shift from coal to LNG. Conversely, emissions from the steel sector grew by 7.1% to 113 Mt fostered by higher production.

07
May

US energy-related CO₂ emissions decreased by 2.8% in 2019

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), US energy-related CO₂ emissions decreased by 2.8% in 2019, to 5,130 MtCO₂, i.e. 15% below their 2007 peak of 6,003 MtCO₂ and offsetting a 2.9% surge in 2018 that was due to increased energy consumption (warmer weather spurred air conditioning demand). In 2019, energy-related emissions fell faster than energy consumption (-0.9%) and the CO₂ intensity (CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP) improved noticeably, in a context of economic growth (+2.3% of GDP). Most of the decrease in CO₂ emissions occurred in the power sector (-8.2% in 2019, i.e. -145 MtCO₂), as renewable power generation continued to rise and to reduce coal consumption: CO₂ emissions from coal fell by 14.6%, while CO₂ emissions from the use of natural gas increased by 3.3% (limited increase in gas-fired power generation).

06
May

GHG emissions under the EU ETS scheme fell by 8.7% in 2019

According to the European Commission, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) declined by 8.7% in 2019. GHG emissions from stationary installations fell by 9% to 1.527 GtCO₂eq, despite a growing EU economy (+1.5% of GDP). GHG emissions contracted by 15% in the power sector, in line with the substitution of coal-fired power generation with renewable and gas-fired generation, and they dipped by 2% in industry, including in energy-intensive branches such as iron and steel, cement, refineries and chemicals. Meanwhile, GHG emissions from aviation rose by 1% to to 68.14 GtCO₂eq; the aviation sector benefited from 31.3 million free allowances, covering 46% of their emissions, while 54% had to be acquired from auctions or other sectors.

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