Global energy demand to increase by 4.6% in 2021: IEA SECTIONS Share Synopsis Global oil demand is forecast to rise 6.2% in 2021 but will still stay around 3% below 2019 levels. Natural gas demand is expected to grow by 3.2% in 2021, driven by rising demand in Asia, the Middle East, and Russia. The gas demand would exceed 2019 levels by 1%. Agencies Global oil demand is forecast to rise 6.2% in 2021 but will still stay around 3% below 2019 levels. Global energy demand is set to increase by 4.6% in 2021, more than offsetting the 4% contraction in 2020 and pushing demand above 2019 levels, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said in a report. A demand recovery would also boost energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by almost 5% in 2021. “Global carbon emissions are set to jump by 1.5 billion tonnes this year – driven by in the resurgence of coal use in the power sector. This is a dire warning that the economic recovery from the Covid crisis is currently anything but sustainable for our climate,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director.