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Europe 2.6°C above pre-industrial temperature in 2023

  • Spanish Market: Electricity, Emissions
  • 22/04/24

Temperatures in Europe stood at 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels in 2023, data from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) show.

Europe last year experienced either its joint-warmest or second-warmest year on record, the WMO and EU earth-monitoring service Copernicus found today, in a joint report, European State of the Climate 2023. The organisations use datasets covering different geographical domains for Europe. WMO includes Greenland, the South Caucasus and part of the Middle East in its dataset. Copernicus put the temperature in Europe last year at between 2.48–2.58°C above pre-industrial levels.

The Paris climate agreement seeks to limit global warming to "well below" 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C. Europe is warming roughly twice as fast as the rest of the world. The global average temperature in 2023 was 1.45°C above the pre-industrial average, the WMO said earlier this year. It confirmed 2023 as the hottest on record. Climate scientists use the period 1850-1900 as the baseline for a pre-industrial average.

Temperatures in Europe in 2023 were above average for 11 months of the year, and there was a record number of days with "extreme heat stress", the report found. The three warmest years on record for Europe have occurred since 2020, and the 10 warmest since 2007, it said.

Electricity generation from renewables in Europe last year reached the highest proportion on record, at 43pc up from 36pc in 2022, the WMO and Copernicus said. Increased storm activity between October-December and above-average precipitation and river flow resulted in higher potential for wind power and run-of-river hydropower generation, respectively.

Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and methane — the greenhouse gases (GHGs) causing the most warming — continued to increase in 2023, "reaching record levels", the report found. It put CO2 concentrations at 419 parts per million (ppm) and methane at 1,902 parts per billion (ppb) on average last year.

"Only around half of anthropogenic emissions of CO2 have been absorbed by land vegetation and oceans", the organisations said.

GHGs from human activity are driving climate change, but the El Nino weather phenomenon also typically leads to higher temperatures. The El Nino weather pattern, which started in July 2023, peaked in December, the WMO said previously, but could still affect temperatures this year. There is a 60pc chance of La Nina conditions — which typically lead to lower temperatures — developing in June-August, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month.


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05/02/25

Equinor Norwegian gas output up on year in 2024

Equinor Norwegian gas output up on year in 2024

London, 5 February (Argus) — Norwegian state-controlled Equinor's gas output on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) edged up on the year, driven by record-high output from the giant Troll field and fewer unplanned outages at NCS assets, the firm said on Wednesday. The firm's Norwegian gas output rose by 4pc on the year to 758,000 b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d) or 107mn m³/d in 2024. This was driven by "strong contributions" from the Troll and Johan Sverdrup fields, Equinor said. Gas production from Troll — in which Equinor holds a 31pc stake — reached an all-time high last year at roughly 116mn m³/d, the Norwegian producer has said. And there were fewer "unplanned losses" on the NCS last year than in 2023, Equinor said. The firm was the largest producer on the NCS in 2023, accounting for more than a third of total gas output on the shelf, the latest available data from the Norwegian Offshore Directorate show. Equinor's global gas output rose by 2pc to 985,000 boe/d or 139mn m³/d last year. But the firm's combined oil and gas global output was slightly lower in 2024, with a small increase in gas production insufficient to offset lower liquids output. Equinor's equity liquids production was 1.08mn boe/d in 2024, down by 3pc on the year. Equinor expects "more than 10pc growth from 2024-27" in oil and gas production, reaching a peak at 2.3mn boe/d in 2027. And the firm estimated that hydrocarbons output would grow by 4pc from 2024 to 2025. Equinor's reported Norwegian gas prices dropped by 22pc on the year to $9.47/mn Btu, or €31.01/MWh, in 2024, using Wednesday's exchange rate. And the average reported price for its US gas decreased by 4pc to $1.70/mn Btu, or €5.57/MWh. Equinor made a profit of $8.83bn in 2024, down by 26pc on the year. Profit was $1.99bn in the fourth quarter, 23pc lower on the year. The company has cut its 2030 expected renewables capacity to 10-12GW, from 12-16GW, noting that the pace of the energy transition is slower in some markets. It did not give a new target for capital expenditure allocation to this sector. Equinor also modified some net carbon intensity goals, setting ranges rather than absolute targets. By Georgia Gratton and Jana Cervinkova Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Equinor scales back renewables plan


05/02/25
05/02/25

Equinor scales back renewables plan

London, 5 February (Argus) — Norwegian state-controlled Equinor said today it has cut by up to 25pc its target for renewables capacity by 2030, and abandoned a plan to allocate half its capital expenditure (capex) to low carbon projects by that same year. The company has cut its 2030 expected renewables capacity to 10-12GW, from 12-16GW, noting that the pace of the energy transition is slower in some markets. It did not give a new target for capex allocation to this sector. Equinor also modified some net carbon intensity goals, setting ranges rather than absolute targets. It now plans to reduce net carbon intensity — which includes scope 3 emissions, from sold products — by 15-20pc by 2030 and by 30-40pc by 2035, from a 2019 baseline. The previous targets were at the higher end of these ranges. Equinor made a profit of $8.83bn in 2024, down by 26pc on the year. Profit was $1.99bn in the fourth quarter, lower on the year by 23pc. The company's oil and gas output was slightly lower in 2024, with a small increase in gas production not quite offsetting lower liquids output. Equinor's equity liquids production was 1.08mn b/d of oil equivalent (boe/d) in 2024, down by 3pc on the year, and its equity gas production rose by 2pc to 985,000 boe/d over the same timeframe. It expects "more than 10pc growth from 2024-27" in oil and gas production, and estimated that hydrocarbons output would grow by 4pc from 2024 to 2025. Liquids and gas prices fell in 2024. Equinor's reported Norwegian and US gas prices rose by 5pc and 26pc, respectively, on the year in the October-December period, but this was not enough to assuage a decrease across the year. The average reported price for its Norwegian gas dropped by 22pc on the year to $9.47/mn Btu in 2024, and the average reported price for its US gas decreased by 4pc to $1.70/mn Btu. Equinor reported an average liquids price of $74.1/bl in 2024, 1pc lower on the year. Its reported fourth-quarter 2024 liquids price fell by 10pc from the same period in 2023, to $68.5/bl. Equinor's power generation rose in 2024, boosted by additions in Brazil and Poland in 2023 and the start of the 531MW Mendubim solar plant in Brazil in 2024. Equinor's share of power generation stood at 4,917GWh in 2024, up by 19pc on the year — but its renewables share rose faster, by 51pc to 2,935GWh. Equinor has maintained its target of 30mn-50mn t/yr of CO2 storage by 2035. Equinor trimmed 600,000 t/CO2 equivalent (CO2e) from its absolute scope 1 and 2 — or operational — emissions over 2023-4. Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its operated production stood at 11mn t/CO2e in 2024. The company's upstream carbon intensity fell to 6.2kg CO2/boe in 2024, down by 7.5pc on the year. Equinor will buy back $5bn of shares in 2025, having bought $6bn in 2024. It completed the fourth $1.6bn tranche of its 2024 programme on 14 January and will launch the first tranche — of up to $1.2bn — of its 2025 programme on 6 February. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

S Korea to invest $89.5mn in net zero, energy security


05/02/25
05/02/25

S Korea to invest $89.5mn in net zero, energy security

Singapore, 5 February (Argus) — South Korea today announced plans to invest 129.3bn won ($89.5mn) this year in new research and development projects in the energy sector, to achieve carbon neutrality and ensure domestic energy security. About W78.7bn will go to 41 projects in the first round of funding this year. These projects will focus on technologies related to "carbon-free" energy such as renewable energy, nuclear power, and hydrogen, among others, South Korea's energy ministry (Motie) said on 5 February. The ministry will also invest W46.2bn to improve energy efficiency and in power systems, especially given surging power demand driven by artificial intelligence. Motie also plans to invest W56.9bn in securing technologies such as next-generation solar power, flexible operation of nuclear power plants, and large-capacity water electrolysis facilities, to "respond to the climate crisis". South Korea's science ministry in December 2024 unveiled plans to invest W2.75 trillion in technologies this year to respond to climate change, which included renewable energy technology and "carbon-free" technologies like nuclear power. It is unclear if the latest W56.9bn commitment is part of the W2.75 trillion announced last year or a separate investment. South Korea in December 2024 also announced plans to invest W450 trillion won in green finance by 2030, then acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo said before he was impeached later that week . This made deputy prime minister and finance minister Choi Sang-mok the current acting president and acting prime minister. President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on 14 December and has since been arrested. If Yoon is removed or resigns, a presidential election must be held within 60 days, instead of the original election date in 2027. By Tng Yong Li Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

California considers different paths to lower carbon


04/02/25
04/02/25

California considers different paths to lower carbon

Houston, 4 February (Argus) — California may need a different path to its climate goals but will continue to work to meet them, state Air Resources Board chairwoman Liane Randolph said today. President Donald Trump's hostility to the state's long-standing authority to drive tougher emissions standards led California regulators last month to pull proposed separate emissions requirements for vehicle fleets and locomotives. But the state will use other means to drive down transportation emissions, including from heavy vehicles, if federal authorities do not approve more direct methods, Randolph said at the BNEF Summit in San Francisco. "We are playing the long game," Randolph said. "We can't afford to let the political winds dictate too much of what we do to actually get those new technologies and build those new markets and get it out on the ground." The federal Clean Air Act allows California to set its own vehicle emissions standards, so long as they are tougher than federal requirements and receive a US Environmental Protection Agency waiver. Such regulations may be adopted by other states. California withdrew petitions for waivers for its Advanced Clean Fleets and In-Use Locomotive Standards rather than risk a denial under the new Trump administration. Advanced Clean Fleets required government fleets, drayage equipment and delivery fleets for businesses earning more than $50mn/yr in revenue to shift to zero-emissions vehicles. The locomotive regulation required rail carriers shift to lower-emission equipment and limit idling. The state also braced for challenges to previously approved regulations, including mandates requiring auto manufacturers to steadily increase the share of zero-emissions vehicles in the new vehicles offered to buyers in the state. California can use regional regulations through air quality districts in the state to help drive toward the same goals, Randolph said. Agreements with automakers and regulations already in place had already driven real change, she added. Revisions to the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and pending work on the state's cap-and-trade program could meanwhile deliver new incentives to support especially medium- and heavy-duty vehicle ZEV transitions, she said. "My plea to you all is to keep playing the long game and to recognize that these investments are paying off, will pay off," Randolph said. "If we have a clear line of sight to success, we can keep that momentum going and use that momentum to support the practical regulations that can be adopted at the state level and hopefully again at the federal level." By Elliott Blackburn Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

EU maritime emissions continue to rise: EMSA


04/02/25
04/02/25

EU maritime emissions continue to rise: EMSA

London, 4 February (Argus) — Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the EU's maritime sector have continued to rise since 2015, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) found in its 2025 environmental report, although "promising progress" has been made in some areas. Maritime activity was responsible for 26pc of methane emissions and 39pc of NOx emissions in the EU transport sector in 2022, as well as for 14.2pc of CO2 emissions from the sector, the report said. Methane emissions from maritime "at least doubled" from 2018-23, the report found, pushed up by growth in the LNG fleet. NOx emissions rose by 10pc from 2015-23, while CO2 emissions totalled 137mn t in 2022, having risen by 8.5pc from a year earlier. But sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions fell by approximately 70pc in 2023 compared with 2014 levels, EMSA said. This was driven mainly by the implementation of Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) in the Baltic and North seas, while the tightening of maximum sulphur levels in marine fuel in 2020 further contributed to the fall in SOx emissions. EMSA expects SOx emissions to drop further once a SECA is established in the Mediterranean Sea. And the northeast Atlantic countries may set up an emission control area by 2027. Biofuels are an "immediate, attractive and cost-effective solution" to cutting GHG emissions in the maritime sector, EMSA said. And synthetic and other drop-in fuels, which can be blended with fossil fuels, could help the shipping sector transition to lower emissions. But their costs could prove an obstacle because they are still "significantly higher" than for marine fossil fuels, the report said. Further electrification of ships could assist in decarbonising short-range waterborne transport, the report said. And the establishment of green shipping corridors — zero-emission maritime routes — could further encourage investment in sustainable fuels and supply chains, EMSA added. The EU emissions trading system-financed Innovation Fund has already supported more than 300 shipping projects, the report said, with funding to be deployed out to 2030. By Navneet Vyasan Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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