Sylvie Willis
Fossil fuels have been the primary energy source for over 150 years, and they continue to play a dominant role in global energy systems. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 82% of the global energy mix, with coal, oil, and natural gas being the main sources. Despite a general shift towards low-carbon energy sources, the world's energy demand is increasing, resulting in a continued reliance on fossil fuels. In the US, fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total primary energy production in 2023, while in Europe, consumption has dipped below 70%. This transition to low-carbon energy sources is crucial to tackling climate change, as fossil fuels are the largest driver of global warming and contribute significantly to air pollution, causing millions of premature deaths annually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of global energy from fossil fuels | 80% to 82% |
| Percentage of global energy from low-carbon sources | One-sixth |
| Percentage of global energy from nuclear energy | 9% |
| Fossil fuel with the largest share of global energy | Oil |
| Fossil fuel with the second-largest share of global energy | Coal |
| Fossil fuel with the third-largest share of global energy | Gas |
| Region with the highest coal consumption | China |
| Region with the second-highest coal consumption | India |
| Region with the highest renewable energy additions in 2023 | China |
| Percentage of U.S. primary energy production from fossil fuels in 2023 | 84% |
| Percentage of U.S. primary energy production from petroleum in 2023 | 38% |
| Percentage of U.S. primary energy consumption from coal in 2023 | 9% |
| Percentage of U.S. primary energy consumption from nuclear energy in 2023 | 9% |
| U.S. total primary energy consumption in 2023 | 94 quadrillion Btu |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix
Fossil fuels have been the primary source of energy for over 150 years, and they continue to dominate the energy mix, powering economies worldwide. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 82% of the global energy mix, with oil and coal contributing to a third and a quarter of the world's energy consumption, respectively. This trend is reflected in the United States as well, where fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total primary energy production in 2023, with petroleum being the most consumed fossil fuel.
While there has been a shift from coal towards a combination of oil and gas, fossil fuel consumption has increased significantly over the past decades, doubling since 1980. This increasing consumption has led to a concerning rise in carbon dioxide emissions, with a record high of 40 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions in 2023. The burning of fossil fuels releases stored carbon and other greenhouse gases, which have caused dramatic changes to Earth's climate. As a result, at least five million deaths are attributed to air pollution annually, with millions more linked to premature deaths.
Despite the negative impacts, fossil fuels remain a dominant energy source due to their role in driving technological, social, and economic progress. However, the world needs to rapidly transition to low-carbon sources such as renewables and nuclear power. This transition is a new challenge, requiring a shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources at an unprecedented speed and scale. While some countries, like those in Europe, have reduced their fossil fuel consumption, others, like China and India, continue to lead in coal consumption.
While fossil fuels remain prevalent, there is reason for optimism. The contribution of renewable energy sources has reached a new record high, and investments in clean energy technologies are expected to double the amount invested in fossil fuels. Additionally, the Group of Seven (G7) nations have agreed to exit coal in the first half of the 2030s, marking a significant step towards reducing fossil fuel consumption.
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Oil is the largest source of energy
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary energy source for over 150 years. They have played a dominant role in global energy systems, with about 80% of the world's energy coming from fossil fuels. However, the specific types of fossil fuels used have changed over time. Initially, coal was the primary source, but it was later joined by oil and gas. Oil is the world's largest energy source today, with the majority of the world's oil being pumped out of underground reservoirs. The transportation sector accounts for the largest share of oil consumption, with gasoline being the most consumed petroleum product.
Oil is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, oil combustion accounted for 45% of US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, making it the largest source of US energy-related carbon emissions that year. Oil is refined into petroleum products, which are used to propel vehicles, heat buildings, and produce electricity. The petrochemical industry also uses petroleum as a raw material to make plastics, polyurethane, solvents, and other goods.
While low-carbon energy sources are growing, they are not displacing fossil fuels quickly enough. Fossil fuels remain the dominant source of energy, with global energy demand increasing. The transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources is necessary to reduce global emissions and address climate change. Nuclear energy, hydropower, biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar energy are all reliable sources of renewable energy that can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
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Coal consumption is falling in some parts of the world
Fossil fuels have played a dominant role in global energy systems, with coal, oil, and gas contributing 82% to the global energy mix in 2023. Despite this, there is a positive trend towards low-carbon energy sources such as renewables and nuclear.
The Group of Seven (G7) nations, including the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK, have agreed to exit coal by the 2030s. This marks a crucial step towards reducing carbon emissions and investing in clean energy technologies.
However, the decline in coal consumption varies across regions. While advanced economies are transitioning to renewables, emerging and developing economies are witnessing strong demand for coal. India, China, and Southeast Asia are expected to drive global coal consumption in the coming years, with India's coal demand projected to increase by 6% in 2024. Nevertheless, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a slight decrease in global coal demand by 2026, marking a potential turning point in the shift towards cleaner energy sources.
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Gas is the second-largest source of electricity production
Fossil fuels have been a fundamental driver of technological, social, economic, and developmental progress. They continue to play a dominant role in global energy systems. In 2023, fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix, with oil and coal accounting for a third and a quarter of the world's energy consumption, respectively.
Gas is now the second-largest source of electricity production globally. Its consumption is growing rapidly, often as a substitute for coal in the energy mix. This transition is positive from a climate perspective, as gas typically emits less CO2 per unit of energy. However, it is still a fossil fuel, and we need to shift towards low-carbon sources such as renewables and nuclear power.
In 2023, about 60% of electricity generation in the United States came from fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases. This reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation is not unique to the United States. Globally, coal, followed by gas, is the largest source of electricity production.
The shift from coal to gas is evident in countries like the UK, where coal's contribution to electricity production has dwindled to a mere couple of percent. However, this transition from coal to gas is not enough to address the climate crisis. Gas, like other fossil fuels, contributes to global warming and climate change. To mitigate these impacts, a transition to low-carbon energy sources is necessary.
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Nuclear and renewables are low-carbon alternatives
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) have played a dominant role in global energy systems. In 2023, fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix, with coal, oil, and natural gas accounting for a third, a quarter, and 25% respectively. This marked an increase of 1.5% from 2022, with coal consumption in particular leading to a 2% rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Despite this, there is a growing trend towards low-carbon alternatives such as nuclear and renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy, generated through the process of fission, is a zero-emission, clean energy source that does not produce the harmful byproducts emitted by fossil fuels. It is the second-largest source of low-carbon electricity globally, after hydropower. Nuclear energy is also highly efficient in terms of land use, requiring significantly less space than wind farms or solar photovoltaic plants to produce the same amount of electricity.
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower are also increasingly contributing to the global energy mix. In 2023, China accounted for 55% of all renewable energy additions, more than the rest of the world combined. This presents an opportunity to triple global renewable capacity by 2030, as targeted at the UN climate summit COP28 in Dubai.
While fossil fuels continue to dominate the global energy landscape, the transition towards low-carbon alternatives is gaining momentum. Nuclear and renewable energy sources offer promising avenues to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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Frequently asked questions
Fossil fuels currently supply about 80% of the world's energy. In 2023, fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix, with oil and coal accounting for a third and a quarter of the world's energy consumption.
Fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total U.S. primary energy production in 2023. In 2020, coal supplied 19% of U.S. energy consumption, while in 2023, coal's share of total U.S. energy consumption was 9%.
The world now gets approximately one-sixth of its energy from low-carbon sources such as nuclear and renewable energy. Fossil fuel consumption has increased significantly over the past few decades, while the share of low-carbon sources has nearly tripled since half a century ago.
