Since the industrial revolution, the volume of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the air by human activity has grown exponentially, especially since the second half of the 20th century.
Fossil fuel consumption
Fossil fuel consumption has become synonymous with industrial development across the globe, however it has had an adverse effect on the earth's climate, causing ocean and surface temperatures to rise at an unsustainable rate, in addition to related problems such as ocean acidification, more frequent of natural disasters, and the destruction of the natural world in the pursuit of these resources. Initially, coal was the most commonly-used fossil fuel and was also the largest polluter, before it was overtaken by oil in the 1960s. Coal emissions then spiked once again in the early 2000s, primarily due to a rise in consumption in China, although oil remains the most-consumed fossil fuel in the world today, it is relatively "cleaner" than coal.
The switch to cleaner energy
Since awareness of climate change has risen in recent decades, the need for alternative energy sources has come to the fore - while the use of natural gas has risen due to its greater efficiency and lower emissions, nuclear and renewable sources of energy are viewed as a long-term solution to the climate emergency. Despite the recent surge in renewable energy output, the volume of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere continues to rise in most years, due to the growing global population, increased international trade, and lifestyle demands in both more-developed and developing countries alike.
Annual global carbon dioxide emissions by fuel or industry from 1800 to 2022
(in millions of tons)
Characteristic
Oil
Coal
Cement
Natural gas
Flaring
Other
2022
11,877.89
15,219.3
1,605.47
7,748.47
397.45
301.2
2021
11,514.74
14,982.52
1,692.4
7,922.11
403.43
301.34
2020
10,899.95
14,225.92
1,633.05
7,555.26
398.52
295.05
2019
12,377.95
14,684.31
1,615.78
7,621.43
435.43
305.21
2018
12,267.44
14,725.25
1,565.8
7,498.02
407.29
303.15
2017
12,219.62
14,489.68
1,504.53
7,121.33
387.48
302.81
2016
12,006.96
14,325.49
1,482.88
6,969.96
374.24
300.5
2015
11,885.38
14,662.11
1,444.45
6,783.36
384.28
303.65
2014
11,621.55
15,006.09
1,499.51
6,646.64
387.03
305.39
2013
11,584.06
14,989.08
1,442.9
6,536.35
385.53
294.54
2012
11,498.22
14,896.54
1,384.17
6,502.51
377.31
276.71
2011
11,348.47
14,731.27
1,349.18
6,372.96
359.51
275.08
2010
11,329.97
13,940.77
1,254.87
6,193.11
341.44
246.16
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Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Carbon dioxide emissions in millions of tonsOilCoalCementNatural gasFlaringOther18001804180818121816182018241828183218361840184418481852185618601864186818721876188018841888189218961900190419081912191619201924192819321936194019441948195219561960196419681972197619801984198819921996200020042008201220162020
05,00010,00015,00020,000
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OWID. (December 31, 2023). Annual global carbon dioxide emissions by fuel or industry from 1800 to 2022 (in millions of tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360595/worldwide-co2-emissions-by-source-historical/
OWID. "Annual global carbon dioxide emissions by fuel or industry from 1800 to 2022 (in millions of tons)." Chart. December 31, 2023. Statista. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360595/worldwide-co2-emissions-by-source-historical/
OWID. (2023). Annual global carbon dioxide emissions by fuel or industry from 1800 to 2022 (in millions of tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360595/worldwide-co2-emissions-by-source-historical/
OWID. "Annual Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Fuel or Industry from 1800 to 2022 (in Millions of Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360595/worldwide-co2-emissions-by-source-historical/
OWID, Annual global carbon dioxide emissions by fuel or industry from 1800 to 2022 (in millions of tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360595/worldwide-co2-emissions-by-source-historical/ (last visited February 20, 2025)
Annual global carbon dioxide emissions by fuel or industry from 1800 to 2022 (in millions of tons) [Graph], OWID, December 31, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1360595/worldwide-co2-emissions-by-source-historical/
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