Fossil Fuel Use Posts Record High in 2023 - Guardian/Carbon...

Fossil Fuel Use Posts Record High in 2023 - Guardian/Carbon Brief

in news that could further shrivel the desiccated hearts and minds of deniers of anthropogenic global warming, fossil fuel use reached a record high last year, pushing CO2 emissions to more than 40 billion tonnes for the first time.

the news comes after word that atmospheric concentrations of the long lasting greenhouse gas CO2 at NOAA's Moana Lau laboratory near Hawaii in May averaged a record 427 ppm.

rising CO2 levels in the air pretty much guarantees the current run of extreme high temperatures seen around the world in recent decades will continue well into the future.

here's how Carbon Brief reported RECORD FOSSIL FUEL USE.

"Consumption of fossil fuels reached a record high in 2023, driving emissions to more than 40bn tonnes of CO2 for the first time, according to a global energy report, reports the Guardian.

"Despite a record rise in the use of renewable energy last year, consumption of fossil fuels continued to rise, the annual review of world energy by the Energy Institute found. (The report was also covered by Carbon Brief, with analysis finding wind and solar added more to global energy than any other source in 2023.)

"The Financial Times quotes Nick Wayth, chief executive of the London-based Energy Institute, who said: “Clean energy is still not even meeting the entirety of demand growth. Arguably, the [energy] transition has not even started.”

"Renewable generation rose 13% from 2022 to a record 4,748 terawatt hours, leading to “lopsided” progress, the FT adds.

"Global primary energy consumption hit an all-time high of 620 exajoules (EJ) in 2023, reports Reuters.

"Fossil fuels accounted for almost all demand growth in India, while in China fossil fuel use rose 6% to a new high, it adds.

"However, China also accounted for over half of global additions in renewable energy generation last year, the article notes."