Regan Brown
Fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting that 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry in 2018. The combustion of fossil fuels for electricity, transportation, and industrial production is a significant contributor to the rise in global carbon emissions, which reached a record high in 2023. This is particularly concerning given the limited progress in capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from large plants, such as power stations. While carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been proposed, it is technically challenging and expensive to implement. As a result, the effective capture of CO2 from power stations remains elusive, and global carbon emissions from fossil fuels continue to rise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worldwide emissions of CO2 from fossil fuels per year | 34 billion tonnes |
| Percentage of emissions from coal | 45% |
| Percentage of emissions from oil | 35% |
| Percentage of emissions from gas | 20% |
| Fossil fuel emissions in 2023 | 36.8 billion metric tons of CO2 |
| Fossil fuel emissions as a percentage of total CO2 emissions in 2018 | 89% |
| Fossil fuel emissions as a percentage of total global energy | 80% |
| Percentage of fuel used for transportation that is fossil fuel-based | Over 94% |
| Fossil fuel emissions in the US in 2023 | 3% decline compared to 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming
The greenhouse effect refers to how certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere allow short-wave radiation in but trap long-wave thermal radiation emitted from the Earth's surface. This is what keeps the Earth habitable—without it, the planet would be too cold at night. However, a buildup of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, is causing warming of the climate in many parts of the world.
The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a much faster rate than it can be removed by the carbon cycle. The carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels accumulates in the atmosphere, with some dissolving in the ocean and causing ocean acidification. Fossil fuels are formed from the decomposition of buried carbon-based organisms that died millions of years ago. When these organisms were alive, they removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the ocean, but their burial inhibited the movement of carbon through the carbon cycle.
Human activities have substantially contributed to climate change. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, altering the Earth's climate. While natural processes such as changes in the sun's energy and volcanic eruptions also affect the Earth's climate, they do not explain the observed warming over the last century. Fossil fuel companies remain huge polluters, producing and selling fossil fuel products while scientists advocate for a mass switch to renewable energy.
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Coal, oil, and gas emissions
Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that are responsible for about 80% of the world's energy supply. The three types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas, and they are the dominant cause of global warming. In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry, with coal being the largest contributor, followed by oil and gas.
Coal is the "dirtiest" of the fossil fuels and is responsible for over 0.3 degrees Celsius of the 1-degree increase in global average temperatures. In 2022, coal-fired power plants in the US emitted about 19% of the country's total energy-related CO2 emissions and about 55% of the electric power sector's total CO2 emissions. Coal combustion also releases other harmful substances such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, mercury, and heavy metals.
Oil releases a significant amount of carbon when burned, accounting for about one-third of the world's total carbon emissions. Oil is the largest contributor to CO2 emissions in the US and the UK.
Gas, including natural gas, accounts for about 20% of global carbon emissions. While natural gas is often promoted as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, it is still a fossil fuel that contributes to global warming. Gas production is a notable source of emissions, particularly in Russia, where it is the largest contributor to CO2 emissions.
The combustion of fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industry are the primary drivers of emissions from these sources. Proposals for carbon capture and storage technologies aim to reduce emissions by capturing CO2 from power plants and injecting it underground, but these methods are expensive and technically challenging to implement.
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Electricity production emissions
Electricity generation is a major contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Over 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions are due to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation. In 2023, utility-scale electric power plants burning fossil fuels were the source of about 60% of total annual US electricity net generation, but they accounted for 99% of the associated CO2 emissions. The other 1% of CO2 emissions came from other fuels and gases derived from fossil fuels and some types of geothermal power plants.
The amount of CO2 emitted depends on the carbon content of the fuel. Fossil fuels, which consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen, release CO2 and water vapour when burned. Natural gas, which is primarily methane (CH4), has a high hydrogen content, resulting in lower CO2 emissions relative to its energy content. For example, burning natural gas produces about half the CO2 of burning coal for the same amount of energy.
In 2022, burning fossil fuels accounted for 74% of total US greenhouse gas emissions and 93% of total US anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The transportation sector, which is almost entirely dependent on petroleum fuels, emitted the most CO2 of any sector in 2023. However, if indirect emissions from electricity use are allocated to the industrial sector, it accounts for a much larger share of US greenhouse gas emissions.
There have been proposals to capture CO2 emissions from large power stations and inject them underground, a process known as carbon capture and storage (CCS). However, this method has proven difficult and expensive to implement, and it would significantly increase fuel needs and electricity prices.
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Transportation emissions
Transportation's reliance on fossil fuels to power vehicles, vessels, trains, and aircraft has made the industry one of the largest contributors to global warming. According to the International Energy Agency, the transportation sector was responsible for 8.26 gigatons, or about 26%, of global CO2 emissions in 2018. In the United States, passenger and freight transportation accounted for an even higher proportion of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, at 28%, or 1,870 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
Road freight, in particular, has a massive carbon footprint. A single truck emits 223 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions of 14 people. The increased market share of less fuel-efficient light trucks has contributed to rising emissions trends. From 1990 to 2015, medium- and heavy-duty trucks experienced a 95% increase in vehicle miles travelled (VMT), resulting in a 78% increase in CO2 emissions.
Vehicle emissions from international flights departing the United States increased by 88.8% between 1990 and 2015. In contrast, CO2 emissions from international shipping from the US have decreased by 40.6% since 1990. The International Transport Forum estimates that international trade-related freight movement accounts for about 30% of all transport-related CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, contributing to over 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The combustion of fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, is the primary source of transportation emissions. A single car emits approximately 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually, assuming a fuel economy of 22 miles per gallon and an annual mileage of 11,500 miles. The construction and maintenance of cars also contribute to their carbon footprint, as steel, plastic, rubber, glass, and paint are required, all of which produce CO2 emissions during manufacturing.
To reduce transportation emissions, many companies are setting ambitious targets for net-zero emissions by 2050. The Energy Information Agency projects a 13.6% reduction in total transportation sector CO2 emissions between 2015 and 2035. Electrified vehicles, including all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid models, are expected to gain popularity, with projected market share increasing from 4% in 2017 to 19% in 2050.
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Industry emissions
The burning of fossil fuels for energy is a major contributor to industrial emissions of CO2. The industrial sector is the third-largest source of direct emissions, and if indirect emissions from electricity use are included, industries account for a much larger share of greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas is the highest source of industrial sector CO2 emissions, followed by associated electric emissions.
In 2023, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry totaled 37.01 billion metric tons, with a projected rise of 1.08% in 2024 to a record high of 37.41 billion metric tons. The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 caused a 5.5% decrease in emissions due to lockdowns and other restrictions. However, emissions rose again in 2021 and 2022, driven largely by increased CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion as economic activity rebounded.
The contribution of different fuel sources to industrial emissions varies by region. In the US and UK, oil and gas are the largest contributors, while coal is more dominant in China and India. Early industrialization in Europe and North America relied heavily on solid fuel consumption, while Latin America and the Caribbean have historically favored liquid fuel. Asia remains the leader in solid fuel consumption and has higher contributions from cement production compared to other regions.
Industrial emissions also arise from specific chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials, such as steel, cement, and plastics. Gas flaring, a process involving the burning of natural gas on oil or gas extraction sites, also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
To reduce industrial emissions, it is essential to transform energy systems and industries, leveraging technological advances in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and batteries to provide cheap, clean energy for all.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels emit about 34 billion tonnes of CO2 per year.
In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry.
The main sources of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas.
CO2 emissions from fossil fuels have generally increased over time, with emissions reaching a record high in 2023. However, there have been periods of decline, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic when economic activity was reduced.
CO2 emissions from fossil fuels contribute to global warming and climate change. The average global temperature has already increased by 1°C, and warming above 1.5°C could lead to further sea-level rise, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, species extinction, food scarcity, and worsening health and poverty for millions of people worldwide.
