Carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector remained unchanged for the third consecutive year

Even in the context of global economic growth, carbon emissions in the energy sector have not increased in the past three years, according to the International Energy Agency In 2016, the global energy sector generated 32.1 billion tons of carbon emissions, the same as in the previous two years, while the economy grew by 3.1%, the agency said The IEA attributed the cessation of carbon emissions growth to renewable energy growth, with the shift from coal to natural gas improved energy efficiency The country with the largest reduction in carbon emissions is the United States Due to the sharp increase in shale gas supply, the supply of natural gas has been replaced by more renewable energy Its CO2 emissions have decreased by 3%, while its economy has increased by 1.6% The U.S carbon emissions have fallen to their lowest level in 1992, and the economy has grown by 80% since then, the agency said China's carbon emissions also fell by 1%, while Europe remained stable, the IEA said, offsetting growth in most other countries in the world "Steady emissions in the context of global economic growth over the past three years are a new trend and certainly an optimistic factor, but it is still too early to say that global emissions have peaked." Fatih Birol, executive director of IEA, said "It also shows that market vitality and technology upgrading are really important." In the United States, abundant shale gas supply has become a low-cost energy source, Birol said In China, with the growth of renewable energy, nuclear energy and natural gas in the power sector, the demand for coal has declined significantly In the EU, carbon emissions have largely remained stable, with gas consumption increasing by 8% and coal consumption reducing by 10% Image source: Mike klin / Getty