Climate change and emissions
Global average temperature has risen by approximately 1°C since the late 19th century
Global weather patterns change over time, driven by natural and human factors. The long-term measurement of weather in a region is known as its climate. Changes to the climate are likely to result in disruptions to water resources, ecosystems and crop yields, as well as increased weather-related extremes, vulnerability of marginalised populations and sea level rise. Human activities including the use of fossil fuels for energy as well as agriculture, deforestation and other industries are releasing increased amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. Elevated concentrations of these gases trap increased solar radiation in the atmosphere and are the primary cause of warming of the Earth, and particularly the oceans (IPCC).
Current scientific evidence suggests there is a higher risk of significant and possibly dangerous changes in the global environment if the global temperature rise passes a 2°C threshold compared to pre-industrial times. Significant efforts by the international community are underway to avoid the worst impacts of climate change; to achieve this, harnessing energy in ways that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is crucial. Since 1992, most countries have been part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty providing a framework for international cooperation for combating climate change. This was followed by the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 which commits its developed country Parties to internationally binding emission reduction targets, and the Paris Agreement in 2015 which sets out an international action plan to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Reaching these targets would require emission patterns to change throughout the global economy. Key opportunities for the energy sector lie in demand side interventions such as energy efficiency and flexible systems, as well as renewable energy sources.
Learn more about climate change and emissions by exploring records on this topic.
For details on the progress in achieving the global and national climate change targets read the New Energy World analyses.
Discover UK energy professionals' views of the best measures to reach emissions targets by reading our annual Energy Barometer.
0 of the 0
warmest years on record have occurred in the 21st century (NASA)
0-fold
increase seen in the amount of ice lost annually from the Antarctic ice sheet between 1979-2017 (WMO)
0%
of global greenhouse gas emissions and 80% of CO2 come from energy-related activities (IEA)
0 bcm
total natural gas flared in 2018, about equal to Africa's gas demand (IEA)
What's new?
Renewable power to break another global record in 2022
18/05/2022
The world added a record 295 GW of new renewable power capacity in 2021, overcoming supply chain challenges, construction delays and high raw material...
Global energy markets face unprecedented uncertainty and a 1.5°C pathway remains increasingly challenging
04/05/2022
Including analysis to help calibrate the invasion of Ukraine with the longer-term energy transition momentum, the report presents five energy scenario...
Women face career barriers at middle management level in UK energy sector
27/04/2022
The new report, titled Cultivating female talent: What the sector can do to resolve the barriers faced by women in middle management, has been publish...
UK ‘Plots for Kilowatts’ initiative
27/04/2022
The ‘dating agency’-type platform will marry up where communities have registered their interest with where landowners can provide land for local wind...
UK government unveils new hydrogen, nuclear and CCS investment
20/04/2022
The funding announcement followed publication of the government’s British energy security strategy, which sets out how the UK will accelerate the...
Events and training
Global Offshore Wind
21/06/2022
Global Offshore Wind 21-22 June | Manchester | #RUKGOW22
Technical guidance publications
HM 32. Guide to hydrocarbon management at petroleum product marketing and distribution terminals
2021
The control of oil loss, both real and apparent, is a critical objective in the management of petroleum product terminals. This document provides advi...
HM 79. Shore tank handbook. Tank design and ancilliary equipment relating to measurement and sampling of hydrocarbon liquids in shore tanks
2021
This document identifies the standards and considers alternative designs and equipment used in onshore storage tanks for petroleum liquids, specifical...
Technical workshop proceedings: Hydrogen safety cases – Challenges in hydrogen safety case development in UK/European industrial clusters
2021
This document is free to download for registered users.The workshop reported herein was convened under the auspices of the EI Hy2004 Hydrogen Safety C...
Managing the replant of a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant
2021
This publication provides guidance on establishing good practice for the safe and structured approach to the management of a replant of a CCGT power p...
Guidance on the identification and assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in soil and groundwater at industrial sites
2021
The aim of this guidance is to promote a risk-based and pragmatic approach to identification and management of CEC at industrial sites, which still co...