The world’s demand for energy surged faster than usual last year, primarily due to record-breaking global temperatures that led to increased electricity consumption for cooling purposes. This phenomenon highlights the ongoing cycle between climate change and energy needs.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about half of the rise in global emissions from energy in 2024 was attributed to it being the hottest year ever recorded. Overall, emissions from energy use increased by 0.8% last year.
Significant heatwaves in countries like China and India drove up coal consumption as people turned up air conditioning units, contributing to a 2.2% increase in global energy demand. This marks a departure from the previous decade’s average growth rate of 1.3% and a 1.8% rise from the year before.
The growing use of electric vehicles and the expansion of data centers, essential for advancing artificial intelligence, also factored into the increased demand for power. Server capacity saw a considerable uptick, particularly in the United States and China.
“What is undeniable is that electricity consumption is rising quickly, which has impacted overall energy demand to such an extent that it has reversed years of declining energy usage in developed nations,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director.
Electricity consumption rose by nearly 1,100 terawatt hours, surpassing double the average annual gain from the past decade. This surge led to heightened demand for various fuels. Interestingly, oil’s share of global demand fell below 30% for the first time, while natural gas generation increased, especially in emerging economies.
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind were adopted at a record pace last year, with nuclear energy also on the rise. Financial institutions, tech companies, and governments have started to back a renewal in atomic energy, resulting in low-carbon energy sources now contributing for the first time to 40% of global electricity generation.