The latest IEA report said global energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 0.8 percent in 2024, reaching a record 37.8 Gt CO2, contributing to atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 422.5 ppm.
Fuel combustion emissions grew by 1 percent, while industrial process emissions declined by 2.3 percent. Emissions growth remained lower than global GDP growth (3.2 percent), restoring the decoupling trend disrupted in 2021.
Natural gas emissions rose by 2.5 percent, making it the largest contributor to global emissions growth, driven by increased consumption in China, the United States, the Middle East, and India.
Coal emissions grew by 0.9 percent, fueled by demand in China, India, and Southeast Asia, while advanced economies saw declines.
Oil-related emissions increased by only 0.3 percent, despite a 0.8 percent rise in consumption and a 5.5 percent surge in aviation emissions, as petrochemical feedstocks accounted for most of the increase.
Regional emissions trends varied. Emerging market and developing economies saw a 1.5 percent increase in CO2 emissions due to rising energy demand from economic and population growth. China’s energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 0.4 percent, mainly in the first quarter, as post-lockdown recovery, record heatwaves, and industrial growth drove higher energy demand.
Clean energy expansion, especially wind and solar PV, helped mitigate emissions, while hydropower rebounded by 11 percent due to strong spring rainfall. However, droughts in northern China and extreme summer heatwaves limited further hydro gains. Industrial process emissions dropped by over 5 percent, driven by a 10 percent contraction in cement production due to weak real estate and infrastructure investment.
India’s CO2 emissions increased by 5.3 percent, the highest among major economies, as rapid economic growth, infrastructure development, and severe heatwaves drove a 5 percent rise in electricity consumption. Record renewable capacity additions of 35 GW could not keep pace with surging demand, leaving fossil fuels dominant.
In advanced economies, CO2 emissions declined by 1.1 percent, with coal emissions falling 5.7 percent and oil emissions dropping 0.5 percent, while natural gas emissions increased by 0.9 percent.
The shift towards low-emission energy sources continued, with renewables and nuclear accounting for over 50 percent of electricity generation. In the United States, emissions declined by 0.5 percent, with coal emissions falling 4.5 percent to their lowest levels in nearly 60 years.
Oil emissions dropped by 0.3 percent, while natural gas emissions increased by 1.3 percent as it remained the top electricity source, providing 43 percent of the power mix. For the first time, solar and wind surpassed coal in electricity generation.
The European Union saw a 2.2 percent emissions decline, led by an 11 percent drop in coal emissions and a near 10 percent reduction in power sector emissions. Fossil fuels accounted for a record-low 28 percent of the EU’s electricity mix, while renewables reached nearly 50 percent, with wind and solar alone surpassing coal and gas for the first time. Above-average rainfall boosted hydropower generation, further reducing emissions.
Baburajan Kizhakedath