Global energy consumption surpasses pre-pandemic levels in 2021

Global energy consumption increased by 5.8% in 2021, surpassing pre-pandemia levels while the strong growth of renewable energy has reduced the use of fossil fuels. This is what the latest BP Statistic Review states. Last year’s demand for oil was 3.7 million barrels per day below 2019 levels, driven mainly by the weakness of the aviation sector, 33% below pre-pandemia levels, BP said in its report. However, the rapid economic recovery has also led to a 5.7% increase in greenhouse gas emissions due to energy consumption, more or less similar to 2019 levels. “The pronounced drop in carbon emissions in 2020 was only temporary,” said BP chief economist Spencer Dale in the report. Global demand for natural gas grew by 5.3% in 2021, recovering above the 2019 pre-pandemia levels and surpassing the 4 trillion cubic meter threshold for the first time. Its share in primary energy in 2021 remained unchanged from the previous year at 24%.