In its latest “world energy outlook” annual report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that demand for electricity around the world is rising faster than expected, making it harder for countries to cut carbon emissions, the New York Times reports.
The IEA says that, over the next decade, the world could add the equivalent of Japan’s annual electricity demand to grids each year, driven by demand for new factories, electric vehicles, air-conditioners and data centres, the newspaper explains.
“All that extra demand makes it tougher to tackle climate change,” the article says, adding: “Previously, the agency expected that global consumption of coal, the dirtiest of fossil fuels, would drop significantly by 2030 as wind and solar power expanded.
But with electricity demand rising quickly in places like China and India, coal use is now projected to decline more gradually.” The outlet quotes IEA executive director Fatih Birol, who says the world is “moving at speed into the age of electricity, which will define the global energy system going forward”.
Full article Global electricity demand is rising faster than expected, IEA says - Carbon Brief
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