The IEA said in its World Energy Outlook 2019 report that if current policies continue, demand will rise 1.3% annually through to 2040,"resulting in strains across all aspects of energy markets and a continued strong upward march in energy-related emissions."
If the aim is to go further and meet the Paris Agreement targets of limiting global warming, then governments will have to adopt"rapid and widespread changes across all parts of the energy system," the Paris-based IEA said. However, a landmark UN report in October last year concluded that CO2 emissions must drop a dramatic 45% by 2030 – and reach"net zero" by 2050 – if the temperature rise is to held at the safer limit of 1.5ºC.
The Earth's surface has warmed 1ºC since the industrial era and is on track to heat up another 3ºC by the end of this century, sparking runaway climate change with catastrophic consequences.The watchdog Global Witness criticized the IEA for continuing"to promote massive investment in fossil fuels."