Hydropower Shortfall Leads to Record Global Emissions in 2023

A worldwide shortfall in hydroelectric power helped push energy related carbon dioxide emissions to a record in 2023, according to International Energy Agency data.

Global energy related emissions rose about 1.1 percent over the prior year, and the drop in hydropower accounted for roughly 40 percent of that increase.

Severe droughts, intensified by El Nino conditions, cut generation sharply, with hydroelectric output in China falling about 4.9 percent while North America faced dry weather.

The world actually added around 20 gigawatts of new hydropower capacity in 2023, yet total generation still fell because reservoirs lacked water.

Coal and natural gas plants stepped in to fill the gap, directly driving emissions higher.

The IEA noted that the swing in hydropower output affected global emissions more than the rebound of the aviation industry between 2022 and 2023.

The episode showed how climate driven droughts can undermine the very clean energy infrastructure that depends on steady rainfall.