Coal emissions worldwide - statistics & facts
The burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of rising global temperatures, and no fuel has contributed more to this than coal. Despite being the dirtiest and most polluting fossil fuel, coal remains the largest source of electricity generation worldwide. In fact, coal-fired electricity was responsible for 21 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, making it the largest climate polluter by far. With the world looking to reach climate neutrality by 2050, the transition away from coal use toward clean energy sources will be a key area of focus for global governments going forward.
However, it is not just in China where emissions from coal use have soared in recent decades. Other emerging economies, particularly India and Indonesia, have also seen a dramatic rise in coal combustion emissions to meet their growing energy demands. In 2023, coal combustion emissions from these three countries increased by 630 MtCO2 year-on-year. This growth was only partially offset by emission reductions in advanced economies like the United States and the European Union, where coal-use has been on a declining trajectory.
While efforts are clearly being made to curb emissions from coal, this polluting fuel remains a crucial energy source around the world. As such, much more needs to be done to accelerate the complete phase-out of coal. This will require significant financial support in developing countries to assist with the clean energy transition, while also supporting energy security and economic growth.
Coal demand in developing regions has driven emissions growth
Global coal consumption has grown by more than 60 percent since the turn of the century, which, in turn, has seen annual carbon dioxide emissions from coal use rise to more than 15 billion metric tons (MtCO2) in 2022. This growth has mainly been driven by China, where coal demand has surged alongside the country’s rapid economic development and industrialization. Between 2000 and 2022, coal use emissions in China more than tripled to some 8.2 GtCO2, making the South Asian country the largest contributor to global coal emissions by far, with a share of roughly 54 percent of the global total.However, it is not just in China where emissions from coal use have soared in recent decades. Other emerging economies, particularly India and Indonesia, have also seen a dramatic rise in coal combustion emissions to meet their growing energy demands. In 2023, coal combustion emissions from these three countries increased by 630 MtCO2 year-on-year. This growth was only partially offset by emission reductions in advanced economies like the United States and the European Union, where coal-use has been on a declining trajectory.
What is being done to tackle coal emissions?
It is widely accepted that the shift away from coal use toward cleaner energy sources is vital to avoid climate breakdown, and many countries around the world are already well into this process. The United Kingdom, for example, has slashed its emissions in half since 1990, with the country’s phasing out of coal power playing a key role in this achievement. It now aims to ban coal use in 2024. In April 2024, the Group of Seven (G7) nations also agreed to phase out the use of unabated coal power by 2035, although the pledge still leaves room for countries to continue using coal-fired electricity if power plants are fitted with carbon-capture technology. This announcement came just days after the U.S. set a new rule that would force any coal plants planning to stay open beyond 2039 to cut or capture 90 percent of their emissions by 2032. Meanwhile, China’s clean energy boom has pushed coals share of electricity generation in the country to new lows. China has also announced plans to increase funding for low-carbon projects to reduce coal power emissions through methods including mixing coal with green ammonia or biomass, as well as by carbon capture, utilization and storage.While efforts are clearly being made to curb emissions from coal, this polluting fuel remains a crucial energy source around the world. As such, much more needs to be done to accelerate the complete phase-out of coal. This will require significant financial support in developing countries to assist with the clean energy transition, while also supporting energy security and economic growth.
