Global greenhouse gas emissions 1970-2023

In 2023, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased by two percent year-over-year to reach a new record high of 53 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e). This represents a more than 60 percent rise in GHG emissions since 1990. The continuous growth in emissions has significant implications for global climate patterns and environmental stability.

Rising global temperatures

GHG emissions from human activities are contributing to global warming. In 2023, the global land and ocean surface temperature stood at 1.19 degrees Celsius above the 20th century average, the largest recorded deviation in history. This temperature increase is part of a consistent pattern of positive temperature anomalies observed since the 1980s, highlighting the long-term warming effect of increased GHG accumulation in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide.

Biggest contributors to GHG emissions

Globally, the power industry was responsible for 15 GtCO₂e in 2023, accounting for approximately 28 percent of global GHG emissions. This sector's emissions were nearly double those of the global transportation sector, the second-largest emitter. Coal-fired generation is the main contributor to power sector emissions. This is particularly the case in Asian countries, where there is a high reliance on this energy source. The Asia-Pacific region was the largest contributor to global CO₂ emissions in 2023, producing 18.9 GtCO₂ from energy use alone.