Sylvie Willis
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the world's dominant energy source for over 150 years. In 2019, fossil fuels accounted for 84% of global primary energy consumption. This figure dropped to around 80% in 2023, with oil, coal, and natural gas making up 33%, 25%, and 24% of the global energy mix, respectively. China leads the world in coal consumption, burning more coal than the rest of the world combined, while the US is the world's third-largest consumer of coal. Despite a global shift towards renewable energy sources, fossil fuel consumption continues to rise, driven by increasing energy demand, particularly in the Global South.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fossil fuels formed from | Decay of organic material, carbon-rich remains of animals and plants |
| Fossil fuels include | Coal, Oil, Natural gas, Petroleum, Crude oil, Oil sands, Oil shale, Peat, Semi-solid hydrocarbons |
| Fossil fuels have been used for | Over 150 years |
| Fossil fuels supply | 80% of the world's energy |
| Fossil fuels are used for | Generating electricity, industrial heat and power, chemical processes, smelting of metal ore, waterproofing, embalming |
| Fossil fuel consumption | Has changed over time, with a shift towards renewable energy sources |
| Fossil fuel production | Has decreased due to environmental concerns and the transition to renewable energy |
| Impact of fossil fuels | Air pollution, Water pollution, Climate change, Health issues, contribution to global gross domestic product |
| Alternatives to fossil fuels | Nuclear power, renewables (solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal), Carbon capture and storage |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels are key to industrialization and rising prosperity
Fossil fuels have been a fundamental driver of technological, social, and economic progress since the Industrial Revolution. They have played, and continue to play, a dominant role in global energy systems, powering economic activities, industrialization, and urbanization.
The burning of fossil fuels for energy began around the Industrial Revolution, with coal being the oldest industrial source of energy. The early 20th century marked the beginning of large-scale coal mining, which fueled the Industrial Revolution. This period also saw the rise of oil exploration and drilling, particularly after the discovery of significant oil fields in the Middle East, the United States, and Russia.
Today, coal, oil, and natural gas comprise the majority of the global energy mix. Oil and coal, in particular, accounted for a third and a quarter of the world's energy consumption in 2023, respectively. However, the types of fuel we rely on have shifted over time. While coal consumption is falling in many parts of the world, oil and gas are still growing quickly.
The excessive consumption of fossil fuels has resulted in profound environmental consequences, including the release of greenhouse gases, climate change, and air pollution. As low-carbon sources of energy, such as nuclear and renewables, become more readily available, the world needs to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate these negative impacts.
Despite these negative consequences, fossil fuels have contributed significantly to industrialization and rising prosperity. They have been pivotal across various economic sectors, serving as the foundation for societal and economic progress. The advancement of human living conditions through industrialization and urbanization since the 18th century owes much to the utilization of fossil fuels.
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Oil, coal, and natural gas are the three fossil fuels
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. The consumption of fossil fuels has changed significantly over the past few centuries, both in terms of what and how much we burn. In 2019, fossil fuels accounted for 80% of US energy production and consumption, with petroleum (crude oil and petroleum products) making up 69% of energy exports and 86% of energy imports. The US has also seen a decrease in coal consumption, with renewable energy consumption surpassing it for the first time in 2019.
Despite a drop in oil production and consumption in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a return to 2019 levels is expected within the next few years. The future of oil beyond 2050 is uncertain as economies transition towards sustainable renewable energy sources. Coal is primarily used for electricity generation, supplying 19% of US energy in 2020. Coal consumption has decreased in the US, with the electric power sector increasing its use of other energy sources and lower heat content coal.
Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide and other air pollutants than coal when generating electricity. However, leaks from natural gas plants, wells, and pipelines emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas. While carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies can help mitigate carbon emissions, they do not address other harmful pollutants released by burning fossil fuels. As low-carbon energy sources become more readily available, a rapid transition away from fossil fuels is necessary to address climate change and local air pollution.
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Fossil fuels are the largest source of energy worldwide
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary source of energy for over 150 years. In 2019, they accounted for 84% of the world's primary energy consumption. This number decreased slightly in the following years, with fossil fuels making up 82% of the global energy mix in 2023. However, this still indicates that fossil fuels are the largest source of energy worldwide.
The consumption of fossil fuels varies across different countries. In 2020, the United States produced about 24% and consumed about 22% of the world's natural gas. China leads the world in coal consumption, burning more coal than the rest of the world combined. India is also a major consumer of coal, burning more than Europe and North America combined.
Oil is another significant component of fossil fuel consumption. In 2019, it accounted for 33% of all energy consumption globally. While the production and consumption of oil dropped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels in the coming years.
Natural gas is also widely used, particularly in the United States, where it is burned to generate an increasing share of the country's electricity. In 2020, natural gas was responsible for 36% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While it emits less carbon dioxide than coal, natural gas infrastructure can leak methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Despite the growing adoption of renewable energy sources, the world still relies heavily on fossil fuels. However, there are efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources, such as the Group of Seven's agreement to exit coal by the 2030s.
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Fossil fuel consumption has changed over the years
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the world's primary energy source for over 150 years. However, the consumption of these fuels has changed significantly over the past few centuries, both in terms of what and how much we burn.
The burning of fossil fuels for energy began around the Industrial Revolution. Fossil fuels were key to industrialization and rising prosperity, but their impact on health and the climate has led to a transition towards other energy sources. In the 1960s, fossil fuels accounted for 93-94% of energy consumption in the United States. This has decreased over time, with renewable energy consumption surpassing coal consumption for the first time in 2019. Since 2008, US production of crude oil, dry natural gas, and natural gas plant liquids has increased, while coal production has decreased.
On a global scale, fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy mix, accounting for 80-82% of global energy consumption in 2023. Oil and coal are the most consumed fossil fuels, each accounting for a third and a quarter of global energy consumption, respectively. However, there are regional variations in the consumption of different fossil fuels. For example, in 2020, the United States consumed more natural gas than coal, while China consumed more coal than natural gas.
The future of fossil fuel consumption remains uncertain as economies commit to transitioning away from these energy sources. The Group of Seven (G7) has agreed to exit coal by the 2030s, and investments in clean energy technologies are on the rise. However, global energy demand continues to increase, and it remains to be seen if renewable energy sources can keep up with this demand.
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Cleaner technologies can support a sustainable energy system
Fossil fuels, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal, are the largest driver of global climate change and a major contributor to local air pollution. As such, there is a pressing need to transition away from fossil fuels and towards low-carbon energy sources.
Furthermore, the US Department of Energy has invested $28 million in advancing cleaner fossil fuel-based power generation. These projects aim to improve the performance, efficiency, and availability of existing and new fossil fuel-based power generation, while also supporting national goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. For example, modular oxygen production technologies for use in coal gasification processes can help to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of producing syngas, a mixture that can be converted into clean electricity or liquid fuel.
Another area of focus for cleaner technologies is the development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which directly convert hydrocarbon fuels to electricity with high efficiency, low emissions, and relatively low costs. These technologies not only improve the sustainability of fossil fuel use but also help to reduce the risk and cost of advanced carbon capture and utilization.
While emissions-free technologies like wind, solar, and nuclear power are important, they may not be able to address the problem of global emissions quickly enough. Therefore, cleaner technologies that can reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels are crucial in the transition towards a more sustainable energy system.
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Frequently asked questions
Around four-fifths of global primary energy comes from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas.
Fossil fuels accounted for about 80% of US energy consumption in 2019, with petroleum (crude oil and petroleum products) making up 86% of energy imports.
Coal consumption has decreased over time. In 2023, coal made up 9% of US energy consumption, down from 37% in 1950.
In 2023, petroleum made up about 38% of US energy consumption.
Natural gas is projected to meet an increasing share of US energy demand. In 2020, it was responsible for 36% of US greenhouse gas emissions.
