Global combustion of fossil fuels and the associated emissions climbed to a record high in 2023, despite rapid deployment of emission-free renewables, according to the Energy Institute’s new Statistical Review of World Energy published on June 20.
Primary energy consumption hit a record 620 exajoules (EJ) in 2023 up from 537 EJ a decade earlier. Global emissions from energy consumption, methane leaks and industrial processes were equivalent to 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide up from 37 billion tonnes in 2013.
Five regions accounted for over 60% of total primary energy consumption last year: China (28%), the United States (15%), the European Union (9%), India (6%) and Russia (5%). Other countries accounted for much smaller shares.
Primary consumption in the United States and the European Union has been largely flat or falling slightly over the last decade. The rapid deployment of renewables has therefore resulted in a sharp decline in fossil fuel-related emissions. U.S. emissions have declined almost 1% per year since 2013 to 5 billion tonnes in 2023. EU emissions have fallen more than 2% a year to under 3 billion tonnes.
However, China’s emissions have grown by 2% per year to almost 13 billion tonnes. The country has become by far the world’s greatest generator of hydro, wind and solar power following a massive roll out of renewable capacity; China accounted for more than half of all new renewable capacity installed last year. But energy consumption has increased even faster, forcing the country to burn increasing volumes of coal and gas.
India relied on fossil fuels to meet almost all its increase in energy demand in 2023 despite a huge roll out of solar generation. Coal-fired generation hit a record high this week as the country sweltered under a prolonged heatwave.
The same pattern of growing energy demand outpacing deployment of renewables resulting in increasing reliance on fossil fuels is playing out in most of the large fast-growing developing economies.
“In advanced economies, we observe signs of demand for fossil fuels peaking, contrasting with economies in the Global South for whom economic development and improvements in quality of life continue to drive fossil growth,” according to Energy Institute Chief Executive Nick Wayth.
