Carbon emissions from coal exports by sea remained stable last year despite the impact of the coronavirus on consumption, a study showed on Wednesday, although the sector is under increasing environmental scrutiny.

Coal is among the largest commodities transported by dry bulk boatthe ping industry and European countries have already reduced their use in search of greener alternatives.

A study published on Wednesday by the independent climate think tank Ember showed that coal exports by sea accounted for 3.1 billion tonnes of CO2 produced in 2020, or about 10% of total CO2 emissions linked to the energy last year.

This compared to 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2 produced from the coal exported by boats in 2019, Ember’s analysis showed.

In 2020, global coal boatExports amounted to around 1.25 billion tonnes, with the main producers, Indonesia and Australia, accounting for 59% of these maritime exports. Global coal boatare estimated at 1.38 billion tonnes in 2019.

Ember estimated that CO2 emissions from coal boatments reached 1.28 billion tonnes in the first five months of 2021, compared to 1.30 billion tonnes in the same period last year.

The Group of Seven – comprising the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – along with the European Union agreed last month to halt international funding carbon projects that emit carbon by the end of this year, and phase out support for all fossil fuels, to meet globally agreed climate change targets.

Ember analyst Nicolas Fulghum said the G7 announcement is likely to put significant pressure on coal exporters.

“Exporters were already looking to Asia to offset declining demand for coal in Europe. Lack of funding for new coal-fired power plants in growing Asian markets will slow the growth in demand for coal seen in recent years. years, “Fulghum told Reuters.

Stopping fossil fuel funding is seen as a major step the world can take to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times, which scientists say would prevent global temperatures. most devastating impacts of climate change.

(Report by Jonathan Saul Editing by David Holmes)