Share of global CO₂ emissions by sector 2023

Global power industry was by far the biggest contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2023, accounting for roughly 38 percent. The transportation sector was responsible for the second-largest share of global CO₂ emissions that year, at just over 21 percent.

Growth of global power sector emissions

Global power sector CO₂ emissions increased by 1.6 percent in 2023 from the previous year to almost 15 GtCO₂e. Emissions from the sector have risen by roughly 60 percent since the turn of the century and now average more than 14 billion metric tons (GtCO₂e) per year.

Who is the largest power sector emitter?

As the world’s largest electricity consumer, China is also the biggest contributor to global power sector emissions by far. In 2023, China produced more than 5.5 GtCO₂ from electricity generation - the majority of which was produced by coal-fired power plants.

Distribution of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in 2023, by sector

Characteristic	Share of global emissions
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Sources

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

September 2024

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2023

Special properties

Based on a total of 39 GtCO₂

Supplementary notes

Emissions include sources from fossil fuel use (combustion, flaring), industrial processes (cement, steel, chemicals and urea) and product use. Short cycle carbon CO₂ is not included.

Power Industry - Power and heat generation plants (public & autoproducers).
Industrial combustion - Combustion for industrial manufacturing and fuel production.
Buildings – Small scale non-industrial stationary combustion.
Transport – Mobile combustion (road & rail & ship & aviation).
Fuel exploitation - Production, transformation, and refining of fuels.

Waste - Solid waste disposal and waste water treatment

Shares have been calculated by Statista using data provided by the source.

Citation formats