Katerina Swanson
Fossil fuels are the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and almost 90% of carbon dioxide emissions. The combustion of fossil fuels for energy use is the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2022, fossil fuel combustion accounted for about 74% of total US anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector, which includes cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes, is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions, with over 94% of the fuel used being petroleum-based. The industrial sector is also a major contributor, with emissions from burning fossil fuels on-site at facilities for energy, as well as from various chemical and industrial processes. Residential and commercial buildings contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through the burning of fossil fuels for heat and cooking, with electricity consumption being a significant factor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2022 | 74% |
| Largest single source | Coal-fired power stations (20% as of 2021) |
| Other sources | Petroleum, coal, natural gas |
| Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry since 1870 | 484±20 GtC (1773±73 GtCO2) |
| Global CO2 emissions from land use change since 1870 | 219±60 GtC (802±220 GtCO2) |
| Global emissions in the 2010s | 56 billion tons a year |
| U.S. emissions in 2022 | Increased by 0.2% compared to 2021 |
| U.S. emissions in 2021 | Increased by 8% compared to 2020 |
| U.S. emissions in 2020 | Decreased sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| U.S. emissions in 2019 | 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent GHG |
| Global steel production emissions in 2017 | 2,280 million tons of CO₂ |
| Global print and paper industry emissions | 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions |
| Digital sector emissions | 2-4% of global GHG emissions |
| Global temperature increase budget for 1.5°C | Less than a decade of current emissions |
| Global temperature increase budget for 2°C | Less than three decades of current emissions |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuel combustion
Fossil fuels are the largest contributor to global climate change. Fossil fuel combustion accounts for about 74% of total US human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, it was estimated that burning fossil fuels emitted 37.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Fossil fuels consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen. When fossil fuels are burned, oxygen combines with carbon to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and with hydrogen to form water (H2O). These reactions release heat, which is used for energy. The amount of CO2 produced depends on the carbon content of the fuel, and the amount of heat produced depends on the carbon and hydrogen content. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, natural gas, and petroleum.
The burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States. Over 94% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum-based, including gasoline and diesel, which results in direct emissions. The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions and the second-largest source when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are considered.
In 2022, 60% of electricity in the US came from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. The industrial sector, including manufacturing and construction, is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with fossil fuels burned on-site at facilities for energy. Additionally, the commercial and residential sectors contribute to emissions through the burning of fossil fuels for heat and the use of gases for refrigeration and cooling in buildings.
To address the impact of fossil fuel combustion on climate change, there is a growing need for a rapid and managed phase-out of fossil fuels. Political change and technological advances are essential to support rapid decarbonization and provide cheap, clean energy for everyone.
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Industrial emissions
In 2019, the industry sector accounted for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with fossil fuels burned on-site at facilities being the primary source. This includes emissions from chemical, metallurgical, and mineral transformation processes not directly associated with energy consumption, as well as waste management activities. The steel industry, for example, emitted around 590 million tons of CO2 in 2004, accounting for 5.2% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. More recent estimates indicate that global steel production emitted approximately 2,280 million tons of CO2 in 2017, highlighting the increasing scale of industrial emissions.
The pulp and paper industry is another significant contributor, with fossil fuel combustion required for raw material production, transportation, and wastewater treatment facilities contributing to emissions. The digital sector, including chipmaking, is also responsible for between 2% and 4% of global GHG emissions. Additionally, plastics are produced mainly from fossil fuels, contributing between 3% and 4% of global GHG emissions.
Fluorinated gases (F-gases), including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), are emitted during industrial processes. While these gases make up a smaller share of global emissions, they are considered "super pollutants" due to their potent near-term impact on global warming.
The industrial sector was the highest energy end-use sector in 2023, although the transportation sector emitted more CO2 due to its dependence on petroleum fuels. Natural gas was the highest source of industrial sector CO2 emissions in the same year.
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Transport emissions
The transport sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. The majority of these emissions come from burning fossil fuels for road, rail, aviation, and maritime transport. Indeed, over 94% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum-based, including gasoline and diesel, which results in direct emissions.
Transportation is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions and the second-largest source when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are considered. In 2022, global CO2 emissions from the transport sector grew by more than 250 Mt CO2 to nearly 8 Gt CO2, a 3% increase compared to 2021. This rebound in emissions was driven largely by the aviation industry as air travel continued to recover from pandemic lows.
Motorised transport on land, sea, and air relies heavily on internal combustion engines that run on fossil fuels. This contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions from end-use sectors, with transport accounting for more than a third of these emissions. To align with net-zero targets, the transport sector emissions need to decrease by around a quarter by 2030, even as transport demand continues to grow.
To meet these targets, policies must encourage a shift towards less carbon-intensive travel options, such as walking, cycling, and public transport. There is also a need to promote more efficient technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs). Several countries, including China, the United States, and Australia, have made significant progress in this regard, with China leading global EV sales in 2022 across various vehicle types. Additionally, the European Union has pushed for the transition to EVs through its Green Deal Industrial Plan and alternative fuels infrastructure regulation.
While the transport sector faces significant challenges in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, the increasing adoption of EVs and the implementation of policies and regulations provide a positive outlook for the future.
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Commercial and residential emissions
Commercial and residential buildings account for 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels for heat and energy in these buildings is a significant contributor to these emissions. Commercial and residential emissions are generated by burning fossil fuels for heat and using gases for refrigeration and cooling in buildings. Additionally, non-building-specific activities, such as waste management, also contribute to these sectors' emissions.
The transportation sector, which includes cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes, is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions within the commercial sector. Over 94% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum-based, resulting in direct emissions. The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions and the second-largest source when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are considered.
The industrial sector, including chemical, metallurgical, and mineral transformation processes, also contributes to commercial emissions. However, emissions from industrial electricity use are typically attributed to the electricity and heat production sector rather than the commercial sector.
Residential emissions are generated from burning fossil fuels for heat and energy in homes, as well as cooking. The use of fossil fuels for these purposes contributes to the overall greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector.
It is worth noting that the EPA categorizes emissions from commercial and residential buildings separately from the energy supply sector. This means that emissions from gas or oil burned in furnaces for heating buildings are assigned to the residential and commercial sectors, while emissions from electricity production are attributed to the electric power sector.
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Electricity production
The burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, the electricity and heat production sector was responsible for 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest single source. This includes emissions from burning coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat.
In the United States, the electricity sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, utility-scale electric power plants burning fossil fuels were the source of about 60% of total annual U.S. utility-scale electricity net generation, but they accounted for 99% of the associated CO2 emissions. Fossil fuel combustion was the source of about 74% of total U.S. anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.
The transportation sector is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels for road, rail, air, and marine transportation. However, the electricity sector's emissions are often allocated to the transportation sector as an end-use sector, making the transportation sector the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions.
The commercial and residential sectors' emissions also increase substantially when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are included, as buildings use 75% of the electricity generated in the U.S. for heating, lighting, and appliances. Additionally, industrial electricity use is excluded from the electricity and heat production sector and is instead attributed to the industrial sector, further highlighting the significant role of electricity generation in overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuclear power and renewable energy sources, such as biomass, hydro, wind, and solar, are considered carbon-neutral and produce lower emissions over their life cycles compared to fossil fuels. However, they still emit greenhouse gases indirectly during the construction of plants and generation processes.
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Frequently asked questions
Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat and make the planet warmer. Examples include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
In the United States, about 74% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels. Globally, fossil fuels account for over 75% of greenhouse gas emissions.
GHG emissions from fossil fuels are primarily due to burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. Industry, agriculture, and residential activities also contribute to emissions.
To reduce GHG emissions from fossil fuels, we need to transform our energy systems by adopting renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. We also need to address emissions from industry, agriculture, and residential sectors.
