Rajan Wilcox
Fossil fuels are fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, buried beneath the earth's surface millions of years ago. Fossil fuels are made up of carbon and hydrogen, and include coal, oil, and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, a significant contributor to global warming and climate change. Despite efforts to transition to renewable energy sources, fossil fuel consumption and emissions reached record highs in 2023, and continue to rise. This begs the question: are fossil fuels at an all-time high?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions | Hit all-time highs in 2023 |
| Global primary energy consumption | 620 Exajoules (EJ) |
| CO2 emissions | Exceeded 40 gigatonnes of CO2 for the first time |
| Fossil fuel share of global energy mix | 82% in 2023 |
| Oil consumption | Exceeded 100 million barrels per day (bpd) for the first time in 2023 |
| Global gasoline consumption | 25 million bpd in 2023 |
| Renewable fuel generation (excluding hydro) | 4,748 terawatt-hours (TWh) |
| Renewable fuel share of global energy mix | 15% in 2023 |
| Fossil fuel emissions in 2023 | 36.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide |
| Total emissions in 2023 | 40.9 billion metric tons |
| Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels in 2024 | 37.4 billion tons |
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What You'll Learn
- Fossil fuel consumption hit an all-time high in 2023
- Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rose 1.1% in 2023
- Oil consumption exceeded 100 million barrels per day in 2023
- Fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix in 2023
- The rise in fossil fuel emissions is impeding progress to limit global warming
Fossil fuel consumption hit an all-time high in 2023
Although renewable energy sources reached a record high, the ever-increasing global energy demand meant that fossil fuels continued to fill in the gaps. The share of fossil fuels in the 2023 global energy mix remained largely the same at 81.5% to 82%, down just 0.5% from 2022. Fossil fuel growth was particularly strong in developing economies. In Europe, however, the fossil fuel share of energy fell below 70% for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, driven by reduced demand and renewable energy growth.
The record-high emissions are impeding progress toward limiting global warming. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased to 420 parts per million in 2023, up from approximately 278 parts per million in 1750 at the beginning of the industrial era. The rise in heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is the primary reason for the planet's soaring temperatures. The global surface temperature in 2023 was 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for NASA's baseline period of 1951-1980, making it the hottest year on record.
The impacts of climate change are becoming more intense and deadly, with the world experiencing brutal extreme heat, deadly wildfires, storms, and severe flooding. If current carbon dioxide emissions levels persist, the remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius could be exceeded in seven years. Urgent and sweeping reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to address this crisis.
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Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rose 1.1% in 2023
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rose by 1.1% in 2023, reaching a record high of 36.8 billion metric tons. This increase is impeding progress toward limiting global warming and the impact of climate change. The rise in emissions is primarily due to the continued burning of oil, coal, and natural gas, despite a slight decrease in the share of fossil fuels in the global energy mix.
The Global Carbon Budget, an annual assessment of Earth's carbon cycle, found that total carbon emissions, including deforestation and wildfires, reached 40.9 billion metric tons in 2023. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased significantly since the beginning of the industrial era, with levels reaching 420 parts per million in 2023. This has led to soaring temperatures, with the global surface temperature in 2023 being 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for NASA's baseline period of 1951-1980.
While there has been a record increase in renewable energy generation, driven by higher wind and solar capacity, the growing demand for fossil fuels continues to drive emissions. Oil consumption exceeded 100 million barrels per day in 2023, and China overtook the US as the country with the largest refining capacity. Overall global primary energy consumption hit an all-time high of 620 Exajoules, with emissions exceeding 40 gigatonnes of CO2.
The increase in carbon dioxide emissions has severe consequences for the planet. If emissions levels persist, the remaining carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius could be exceeded in seven years. Returning global temperatures below this threshold would require a massive scale-up of carbon dioxide removal after reaching global net-zero emissions. Technology-based carbon dioxide removal has had limited success, with only 10,000 tons of gas removed from the atmosphere in 2023.
The stability of the airborne fraction, the proportion of carbon dioxide that remains in the atmosphere, is also uncertain. While it has remained stable over the past 60 years, a 2023 study found that the ocean's carbon sink capacity may be decreasing. The ocean has already absorbed enough carbon dioxide to increase its acidity by 30%, and changes in global ocean circulation may further impact its ability to store carbon.
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Oil consumption exceeded 100 million barrels per day in 2023
Fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions reached an all-time high in 2023, according to the industry's Statistical Review of World Energy report. This was despite a slight drop in fossil fuels' share of the global energy mix. The report recorded shifting trends in fossil fuel use in different regions. For example, in Europe, the fossil fuel share of energy fell below 70% for the first time since the industrial revolution.
In 2023, global oil consumption exceeded 100 million barrels per day for the first time ever, following a 2% year-on-year rise. The demand for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene returned to or exceeded pre-2019 levels, although there were variations across different regions. Global gasoline consumption slightly exceeded its pre-COVID level at 25 million barrels per day, while kerosene, despite showing strong growth of 17.5% in 2023, did not reach its peak levels from 2019.
The United States was the world's top oil producer in 2023, setting a new record and outpacing other major producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia. The US produced 15.6% of the world's oil in 2023, extending its lead over the other two countries. China surpassed the US as the largest oil refining market by capacity, reaching 18.5 million barrels per day, although its refinery utilisation rate of nearly 82% was lower than the US rate of around 87%.
In the Asia-Pacific region, China's oil production grew by 2%, contributing to about 57% of the total production in the region. The Review reported that Brent crude prices averaged $82.64 per barrel in 2023, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) averaged $78.88. Both prices were nearly 20% below the 2022 average but were still elevated when compared to average annual prices over the past decade.
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Fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix in 2023
The continued reliance on fossil fuels is cause for concern as it contributes to global warming and climate change. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rose again in 2023, reaching record levels according to estimates from scientists. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from approximately 278 parts per million in 1750, the beginning of the industrial era, to 420 parts per million in 2023. The rise in heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is the primary reason for the planet's soaring temperatures.
While there has been progress in transitioning to renewable energy sources, the world remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels for energy needs. Oil and coal dominated the energy mix in 2023, with oil consumption exceeding 100 million barrels per day for the first time ever. Coal remained the dominant fuel globally for power generation in 2022, with a stable share of around 35%. In 2023, coal and oil accounted for a third and a quarter of the world's energy consumption, respectively.
The increase in emissions and the dominance of fossil fuels in the global energy mix highlight the urgent need to accelerate the transition to renewable and low-carbon energy sources. While there are challenges and obstacles in this transition, it is crucial to address the impacts of climate change and work towards achieving the goals set by the Paris Agreement and other international agreements.
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The rise in fossil fuel emissions is impeding progress to limit global warming
Fossil fuel emissions are at an all-time high, and this is impeding progress to limit global warming. In 2023, global fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions reached unprecedented levels, despite a slight decrease in fossil fuels' share of the global energy mix. Oil consumption exceeded 100 million barrels per day for the first time, and emissions exceeded 40 gigatonnes of CO2. This is particularly concerning given that scientists have warned that fossil fuel emissions must be halved within 11 years to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The rise in heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions is the primary driver of increasing global temperatures. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from approximately 278 parts per million in 1750 to 420 parts per million in 2023. As a result, the global surface temperature in 2023 was 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for NASA's baseline period of 1951-1980, making it the hottest year on record.
While renewable energy sources have made significant gains, contributing a record-high 8% to the overall energy mix (15% including hydro), this progress is offset by the continued rise in emissions from burning fossil fuels. Scientists estimate that emissions from fossil fuels rose by 1.1% in 2023 compared to 2022 levels, resulting in total fossil fuel emissions of 36.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. When including other sources such as deforestation and wildfires, total emissions in 2023 were estimated at 40.9 billion metric tons.
The Global Carbon Project's estimates highlight the urgency of addressing fossil fuel emissions during the climate summit known as COP28. Countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement are discussing efforts to achieve the goal of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and ideally limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, current trends indicate that governments plan to produce significantly more fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with these targets.
To summarize, the rise in fossil fuel emissions is impeding progress toward limiting global warming. Despite the growing contribution of renewable energy sources, emissions from burning fossil fuels continue to increase, driving up global temperatures. Urgent action is needed to align fossil fuel production with the commitments made under the Paris Agreement and to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources to limit global warming to manageable levels.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions hit all-time highs in 2023, with carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels reaching record levels.
The four major sources of carbon dioxide emissions are fossil fuels (yellow), burning biomass (red), land ecosystems (green), and the ocean (blue).
Currently, about half of all carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed by land and ocean sinks.
The rise in heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is the primary reason for the planet's soaring temperatures. The continued rise in emissions from the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas is impeding progress toward limiting global warming.
