The increasing role of electricity in energy systems offers an opportunity for its clean sources such as nuclear power to ensure the “deep decarbonisation” needed to meet global climate goals, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

Using data from a forthcoming IAEA report on climate change and nuclear power, an agency animation shows emissions from a variety of economic sectors have seen explosive growth, more than doubling since 1970.

It also shows the increasing importance of the power sector as economies electrify.

Emissions from electricity production have tripled and now account for almost a quarter of all emissions. Annual electricity emissions would have been around 2 Gt of CO2 higher over the past decade if fossil fuels had been used instead of electricity from lower carbon nuclear power plants.