The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) says that globally, there was a 2.3% growth in industrial sectors, encompassing manufacturing, mining, electricity, water supply, waste management, and other utilities, signalling a post-pandemic recovery.
UNIDO, in its 29th edition of the International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, said that manufacturing accounted for most of this dynamism, with an increase of 3.2%, while the combined mining and utilities sector—the largest contributor to the economy in low-income countries—contracted by 0.9%.
The report said that the projections for 2023 suggest a slowdown in manufacturing due to rising costs, tighter monetary conditions, geopolitical tensions and global supply chain disruptions.
” In global manufacturing, a dual decoupling trend has arisen with positive and negative effects.
On the positive side, there’s evidence of a decoupling between manufacturing and CO2 emissions, showing emissions stabilization despite increased production.
In manufacturing, the textile and pharmaceutical industries are major contributors to water pollution, with the most severe polluters located in low- and middle-income countries.
The mining and utilities sector continues to contribute considerably to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with coal being the sector’s biggest CO2 emitter.