IEA: Increased Coal Use in Developing Economies Could Undo Decarbonization Measures in Advanced Economies

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS--July 16, 2021--Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--This week, on the day before the International Energy Agency (IEA) (Paris, France) released its semi-annual Electricity Market Report, China reported second-quarter economic growth of 7.9%. Though down sharply from the torrid pace of 18.3% in the first quarter, economic growth in the world's second-largest economy creates a dilemma for the IEA and others seeking to reduce global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). For all the hue and cry in advanced economies about decarbonizing, those economies take a back seat to China, India and other developing nations because much of that economic growth is being powered by coal.