Global CO2 emissions by sector 2023

The power industry is the largest contributor to global fossil carbon dioxide emissions by far. In 2023, power industry emissions increased by 1.6 percent to a record high of 14.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). This accounted for roughly 38 percent of global CO₂ emissions.

Where are power sector emissions highest?

China is the world's biggest power sector emitter. In 2023, Chinese power plants, the majority of which are coal-fired, released 5.5 GtCO₂ into the atmosphere. China's power sector emissions have risen five-fold since 2000, owing to the country's rapid economic growth. In comparison, power sector emissions in the U.S. - the sector's biggest emitter at the turn of the century - have fallen by almost 30 percent since 2000.

Emissions from coal combustion

The power sector is a major source of emissions due to coal being the most used source for electricity generation worldwide. Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels, and emits roughly twice as much CO₂ as natural gas when combusted. Coal-fired power accounts for almost 70 percent of global power sector emissions.

Global fossil carbon dioxide emissions from 1970 to 2023, by sector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Characteristic	Power industry	Transportation	Industrial combustion	Buildings	Industrial processes	Fuel exploitation	Other sectors
2023	14,923.9	8,239	6,406.8	3,413.5	3,212.6	2,666.4	161.6
2022	14,693.4	7,943.5	6,223.6	3,385.6	3,220.3	2,619.2	161
2021	14,655.5	7,634.7	6,341.4	3,375.5	3,332.2	2,620.9	161
2020	13,593.5	7,092.9	6,194	3,322.8	3,236.3	2,550.7	164
2019	14,088	8,282.5	6,249.9	3,379.7	3,198	2,710.3	158
2018	14,217	8,273.9	6,213.4	3,434.2	3,105.9	2,577.4	152.6
2017	13,770.8	8,079.3	6,078.3	3,421	3,032.3	2,513.9	151.9
2016	13,456.9	7,886.8	6,149.9	3,350.1	2,972.9	2,453.1	154
2015	13,402.3	7,737.7	6,291.9	3,317.8	2,857.5	2,538.3	154.9
2014	13,701	7,503.5	6,427.8	3,292.2	2,885.7	2,467	150.4
2013	13,643	7,381.1	6,363.8	3,349.9	2,823.5	2,504.3	155.4
2012	13,404	7,196.4	6,336	3,231.4	2,741.1	2,463.5	149.5
2011	13,125.5	7,136.3	6,316.5	3,266	2,655.2	2,413	147.1
2010	12,522	7,019.8	6,089.3	3,333.7	2,503.6	2,397.2	137.9
2009	11,736.1	6,734.5	5,545.1	3,263.2	2,327.1	2,277.3	137.3
2008	11,922.3	6,874.2	5,556.5	3,324.8	2,332.9	2,293.4	127.1
2007	11,922.2	6,870	5,441	3,252.5	2,322.4	2,295.7	128.8
2006	11,429	6,662.1	5,167.7	3,252	2,172	2,256.8	125.5
2005	10,999	6,510.5	4,925.6	3,273.2	2,015.2	2,200.3	120.8
2004	10,651.6	6,369.3	4,508.8	3,252.7	1,900.9	2,133.3	132.2
2003	10,275.5	6,086.9	4,077.1	3,177	1,789.9	2,121.8	128.7
2002	9,718.9	5,961.8	3,891.5	3,074.2	1,699.3	1,961.5	126.1
2001	9,580.2	5,810.1	3,897.5	3,073.6	1,619.7	1,928.1	122
2000	9,375.6	5,781.1	3,874.8	3,037.4	1,595.2	1,941.6	119.8
1999	8,994.2	5,603	3,699.2	3,101.9	1,541.9	1,879.3	120
1998	8,918.4	5,441.5	3,856.3	3,022.2	1,508.1	1,895.4	114.4
1997	8,740.3	5,317.4	3,856.3	3,194.9	1,494.2	1,882.5	112.4
1996	8,520.4	5,241.2	3,831.1	3,170.9	1,449.5	1,821.1	111.2
1995	8,182.1	5,035.2	3,940.5	3,173.7	1,431.4	1,812.6	103.7
1994	8,025.6	4,900.9	3,714.1	3,147.8	1,371.8	1,777.5	95.5
1993	7,947.8	4,803.8	3,697.1	3,258.2	1,314.8	1,689.7	91.4
1992	7,928.6	4,762.1	3,747.1	3,184.9	1,295.5	1,699.4	92.3
1991	7,790.7	4,656.3	3,880.3	3,375.9	1,278.5	1,726.8	101
1990	7,643.9	4,618.5	3,957	3,349.9	1,293.2	1,714.6	103.1
1989	7,305.7	4,482.3	4,011	3,473.3	1,276	1,716.7	105.5
1988	7,010.5	4,358.5	4,037.6	3,540.2	1,263.3	1,667.4	106.7
1987	6,773.7	4,160.6	3,922.4	3,469.4	1,204.1	1,592.1	102.4
1986	6,497.4	4,020.8	3,793.3	3,410.4	1,165.8	1,576.4	101.3
1985	6,334.4	3,878.4	3,820	3,380.1	1,133.8	1,561.8	98
1984	6,181.3	3,801.2	3,905.6	3,302.3	1,124.1	1,531.2	96.7
1983	5,975.7	3,696.3	3,781	3,189.4	1,064.9	1,509.8	93.1
1982	5,814.5	3,662.4	3,864.1	3,179.5	1,037.5	1,518.4	88.6
1981	5,815.5	3,694.9	4,038.5	3,195.2	1,078.4	1,502.1	87.1
1980	5,814.3	3,712.4	4,180.2	3,256.3	1,091.7	1,641.4	86.3
1979	5,668.7	3,756.3	4,286.3	3,407.1	1,129.7	1,701.2	82.5
1978	5,456.4	3,689.7	4,102.7	3,367.9	1,098.7	1,699.5	76.3
1977	5,280.8	3,544.4	4,053.2	3,267.1	1,064.7	1,589.7	71.8
1976	5,060.6	3,422.1	3,883.8	3,248.6	1,043.2	1,591.6	67.1
1975	4,697.9	3,285.8	3,715.2	3,121.9	968.4	1,475.6	63.8
1974	4,608.9	3,218.4	3,838.4	3,046.2	1,008.1	1,621.3	58.9
1973	4,526	3,247.3	3,848.4	3,126.1	1,030.7	1,627.8	58.1
1972	4,188.5	3,070.8	3,658.6	3,062.6	990.4	1,452.6	57.9
1971	3,909.6	2,901.4	3,578.1	2,945.3	922.1	1,369.1	57.7
1970	3,822.1	2,821.2	3,847.7	2,932.2	915.9	1,355.2	57.5

Loading statistic...

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Sources

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

2024

More information

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

1970 to 2023

Supplementary notes

Source did not provide a release date
Figures have been rounded
Power Industry - Power and heat generation plants (public & autoproducers)
Industrial combustion - Combustion for industrial manufacturing and fuel production
Industrial processes - Industrial processes (e.g. emissions from the production of cement, iron and steel, aluminum, chemicals, solvents, etc.)
Buildings – Small scale non-industrial stationary combustion
Transport – Mobile combustion (road & rail & ship & aviation)
Fuel exploitation - Production, transformation, and refining of fuels
Other sectors – agriculture & waste.

Citation formats