In this article, the Vietnam Energy Journal will introduce a panorama of greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions from energy consumption in 2019 on a global scale, regions, groups of countries, and representative countries and Vietnam in terms of: Size, growth, share, per capita and per unit of energy consumed in relation to the influencing factors. Thereby drawing necessary conclusions and meditating on Vietnam’s problems in the energy development strategy with the aim of meeting energy needs for socio-economic development, ensuring security and national defense. and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the environment.

1 / Global picture:

Total CO2 emissions are 34,169 million tons, an increase of 0.5% compared to 2018, approximately of the average increase in the period 2008 – 2018 (1.1% / year), while primary energy consumption increased by 1.3 % and the average period of 2008 – 2018 is 1.6% / year.

The average CO2 emission per 1 EJ of primary energy consumption is 58.52 tons, down from the average of the years: 2009: 61.61; 2012: 61.48; 2015: 60.46; 2018: 59.02.

2 / In terms of regions, groups of countries and each country:

First: Regarding the scale of CO2 emissions, the largest is Asia – Pacific Ocean accounts for 50.5%, followed by North America 17.5%, Europe 12.0%, Middle East 6.3%, CIS 6.1%, Africa 3.8%, South and Central America 3.7%.

There are 11 countries with the largest CO2 emission scale (> 1.5%): China accounts for 28.8%, followed by the US 14.5%, India 7.3%, Russia 4.5%, Japan. 3.3%, Germany 2.0%, Iran 2.0%, South Korea 1.9%, Indonesia 1.8%, Saudi Arabia 1.7%, Canada 1.6%. A total of 11 countries account for 69.4% of the total global CO2 emissions, of which the Top 5 account for 58.4%.

Second: Compared to 2018, there are many countries that increase, but there are also many countries reducing CO2 emissions, of which the countries with the highest growth rates are Vietnam 20.6%, Indonesia 8.8%, Australia 4.3 %, Iraq 4.1%, China 3.4%; The countries with the highest decline were: Germany 6.5%, Spain 5.1%, Poland 4.9%, Ukraine 4.0%, South Korea 3.6%, Japan 3.5%.

In general, the uptrend is still higher, so the whole world increases by 0.5%, although much lower than the average increase in the period 2008 – 2018. Reasons for the increase and decrease of CO2 emissions in 2019 of major countries due to the increase and decrease in total consumption of primary energy, except for a few countries such as: Brazil (increase consumption of primary energy by 2.2% but reduction of emissions by 0.2%), Belgium (respectively 4.8% and -0, 5%), Turkey (3.2% and -2.2%), UAE (0.6% and -0.8%), Thailand (0.3% and -1.4%)

Third: The world’s per capita CO2 emissions are 4.43 tons / person, of which: North America 12.10; South and Central America 2.41; Europe 6.06; CIS 8.49; Middle East 8.43; Africa 1.0; Asia-Pacific 4.10; OECD 9.19; Outside of OECD 3.46; EU 6.50.

The countries with the highest per capita emissions (> double the world average) are (tons / person): Singapore 37.74; UAE 29.43; Australia 16.99; Saudi Arabia 16.96; America 15.09; Canada 14.87; Kazakstan 12.9; Korea 12.47; Taiwan 11.72; The Netherlands 11.23; Belgium 10.8; Russia 10.45. Countries with high per capita emissions are mainly due to the high per capita consumption of primary energy and vice versa.

For example, the world’s per capita is 75.7 GJ / person, while that of Singapore 611.6; UAE 494.4; Canada: 379.9; Saudi Arabia 322.0; America 287.6; Australia 254.3; Korea 241.5; Belgium 235.1; The Netherlands 205.4; Russia 204.3; Taiwan 202.3; Kazakstan 167.1;

Germany 157.3. In addition, there are other reasons such as the average emission per unit of EJ consumed by the primary energy is shown through the low share of primary energy consumption but the share of the emission level is higher.

II. Some problems of Vietnam

By 2019, Vietnam has a total CO2 emission from primary energy consumption of 285.9 million tons, accounting for 0.8% of the world’s total CO2 emissions and the per capita emission level is 2.96 tons / person. only equal to 66.8% of the world average and very low compared with many countries in the world and in the region (equal to 65.2% of Thailand, 25.3% of Taiwan, 23.7% of South Korea , 7.8% of Sigapore, 35.0% of Malaysia, 33.4% of Japan, 42.1% of China, 17.4% of Australia, etc.).

However, the problem in Vietnam is:

First: The scale and low CO2 emissions per capita are mainly due to the low scale and consumption of primary energy: The total consumption of primary energy is only 0.7% of the world, but the scale of emissions accounts for 0.8% of the world; per capita consumption of primary energy is only equal to 56.4% of the world, but the average emission per capita is up to 66.8% of the world.

Second: The growth rate of CO2 emissions is very high compared to the growth rate of primary energy consumption: In 2019, it will increase by 20.6% and in the period 2008 – 2018, it will increase by 8.5% on average / year, while the respectively 10.7% and 8.7%. Accordingly, per capita emissions have increased (tons / person): 2009: 1.17; 2012: 1.48; 2015: 1.97; 2018: 2.48 and 2019: 2.96 (2.53 times higher than in 2009).

Third: The average CO2 emission per 1 EJ of primary energy consumption has increased from 62.06 tons in 2009 to 69.39 tons (up 11.8%), 18.6% higher than the average of the potential gender; 29.0% of Thailand, 34.4% of South Korea and higher than that of most countries in the region, except India and Indonesia. That is, the structure of Vietnam’s primary energy consumption is favoring the type of energy with high emissions.

The above situation in the socio-economic and energy resource context of the country over the past time is acceptable, but now and in the coming time, the country’s context has and will have a big change. , especially:

1 / GDP per capita has increased from USD 1,160 (the rate out of poverty) in 2009 to USD 2,715 in 2019 [2] and is forecasted to reach 4,688 USD by 2025, by 2035 USD is over 10 thousand USD, accordingly quality of life in general and living environment in particular has been increasing [2].

2 / From a net exporter of energy to a net importer of energy since 2014, especially coal.

3 / The exploitation of traditional domestic energy resources (oil, gas, coal, hydroelectricity) has reached the limit of their available potential.

4 / Science and technology in the field of energy production and use have made many progress towards improving efficiency and minimizing the level of emissions causing environmental pollution, especially electricity generation technology. recycled energy.

5 / The impact of climate change is becoming more and more fierce, leading to a more drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Therefore, in the coming time, promoting energy development to meet the energy demand for socio-economic development, security and defense is necessary, inevitable, but it is necessary to control tightly. to reduce the rate of increase in CO2 emissions compared to the growth rate of energy consumption on the basis of finding ways to reduce the average CO2 emissions per 1 EJ of primary energy consumption to ensure that the emission limit is not exceeded, in while still meeting energy needs at a reasonable price that can be socially acceptable.