Rajan Wilcox
Fossil fuels—including coal, oil, and natural gas—have been the world's primary energy source for over 150 years. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 82% of global energy consumption, according to the Energy Institute's report. This high proportion of fossil fuel usage has contributed significantly to global warming and climate change, with carbon dioxide emissions reaching record levels. While some regions, like Europe and the US, have reduced their fossil fuel consumption, the overall global demand for energy continues to be met predominantly by fossil fuels, highlighting the ongoing challenge of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels are responsible for 82% of global energy consumption
Fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—have been the world's primary energy source for over 150 years. In 2023, they accounted for 82% of global energy consumption, according to the Energy Institute's report on world energy. This figure has remained relatively unchanged over the years, hovering around 80% for decades. The report also highlights that global energy consumption reached a historic high in 2023, with a 1.5% increase from 2022, driven by a spike in energy demand, particularly from the Global South.
Oil and coal were the largest contributors to this rise, with oil accounting for a third and coal a quarter of global energy consumption. Coal, the cheapest and dirtiest fossil fuel, is the single largest source of carbon emissions, responsible for over 0.3°C of the 1.2°C increase in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. It is also a major contributor to air pollution. Despite efforts to transition to renewable energy sources, the ever-increasing global energy demand means the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix remains high.
While some regions, such as Europe and the US, have seen a decrease in fossil fuel consumption, the overall global trend is still heavily reliant on these energy sources. Non-OECD countries, particularly in South and Central America, have exhibited high growth rates in energy demand. Additionally, China, the world's largest coal consumer, has seen a strong economic rebound contributing to increased coal production. These factors contribute to the continued dominance of fossil fuels in the global energy mix.
The high consumption of fossil fuels has severe environmental consequences. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to dramatic changes in Earth's climate. In 2021, about 36 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions were attributed to energy use, almost all from fossil fuels. Despite the growing adoption of renewable energy sources, the structural challenges of aligning global energy consumption with climate goals persist.
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Oil and coal are the most consumed fossil fuels
Fossil fuels—including coal, oil, and natural gas—have been powering economies for over 150 years and currently supply about 80% of the world's energy. In 2023, fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix, according to the Energy Institute's latest report. Oil and coal accounted for a third and quarter of the world's energy consumption, respectively.
Coal is primarily used to generate electricity and, in 2020, supplied 19% of US energy consumption. Coal combustion produces a variety of air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and particulate matter. Coal is the single largest source of carbon emissions, responsible for over 0.3 degrees Celsius of the 1.2 degrees Celsius increase in global average temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. As the costs of natural gas and renewable energy have dropped, coal has become less competitive, and its share of the energy mix has been steadily decreasing.
While global energy demand continues to be met primarily by fossil fuels, the pace of renewable deployment is increasing. In 2020, renewable energy accounted for about 20% of US electricity generation, and that share is expected to continue growing. Several options exist to transition away from a fossil fuel economy, including hydropower, biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar energy. As low-carbon sources of energy become more readily available, the world needs to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate their dramatic impact on Earth's climate.
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Fossil fuels are a major source of greenhouse gases
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary energy source for over 150 years. In 2023, they accounted for 82% of the global energy mix, with oil and coal making up a third and a quarter of the world's energy consumption, respectively. While there has been a push toward renewable energy sources, the world remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, and this trend is expected to continue in the near future.
Fossil fuels are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which have caused dramatic changes to Earth's climate. When fossil fuels are burned, the carbon and other greenhouse gases stored within them are released into the atmosphere. The combustion of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation is the largest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, fossil fuel combustion accounted for about 74% of total U.S. anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
Oil, in particular, is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, oil combustion was responsible for 45% of U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the transportation sector, which relies heavily on petroleum-based fuels, is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions.
Coal, often referred to as the dirtiest fossil fuel, is the single largest source of carbon emissions and has contributed to over 0.3°C of the global average temperature increase. Natural gas, while promoted as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, still accounts for a significant portion of the world's carbon emissions, contributing about one-fifth of the total.
The continued reliance on fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions have led to record-high CO2 levels. According to the Energy Institute, the increase in fossil fuel consumption, particularly coal, led to 40 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, the highest level ever recorded.
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Renewable energy sources are gaining popularity
Fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—have been the world's primary energy source for over 150 years. In 2023, they accounted for 82% of the global energy mix, with oil and coal making up a third and a quarter of this, respectively. However, renewable energy sources are gaining popularity for several reasons.
Firstly, renewable energy is key to a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable world. It helps address climate change, air pollution, and health issues caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydropower, biofuels, and geothermal energy, provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels.
Secondly, renewable energy is becoming increasingly affordable. Prices for renewable energy technologies are dropping rapidly, with over 90% of new renewable projects now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. Solar and offshore wind, for example, are 41% and 53% cheaper than fossil fuels, respectively. This declining cost is making renewable energy more attractive to countries worldwide, especially those with low and middle incomes, where future demand for new electricity will be high. By 2040, Africa could generate 10 times more electricity than it needs, entirely from renewables.
Thirdly, renewable energy creates more jobs than the fossil fuel industry. Clean energy sector jobs already outnumber fossil fuel jobs, employing almost 35 million people worldwide. For every dollar invested, renewable energy creates three times as many jobs. The transition to net-zero emissions is expected to lead to a net gain of 9 million jobs in the energy sector.
Lastly, renewable energy is critical to reducing global energy demand and keeping the rise in average global temperatures below 1.5°C. While electricity accounts for only a fifth of global energy consumption, deploying renewable energy sources in transportation and heating is crucial to the energy transition. Renewable transport fuels and renewable heat sources, such as modern bioenergy, geothermal plants, and solar heaters, contribute significantly to emissions reductions in these sectors.
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Fossil fuel consumption is declining in some regions
For example, in Europe, fossil fuel consumption dipped below 70% for the first time, and in the US, consumption has halved in the last decade. These changes have led to significant decreases in CO2 emissions in these regions. Additionally, preliminary data from 2020 indicates a strong decrease in fossil fuel production compared to 2019, with oil production decreasing by 7% and coal production by 4%, due to the global health crisis and the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The transition towards renewable energy sources is gaining momentum, with renewables providing almost 27% of global electricity in 2019, a significant increase from previous years. However, the demand for energy continues to rise, particularly in transportation, with global energy demand expected to grow by a third by 2040. This demand is driven mainly by increasing consumption in China, India, and parts of Asia. While the development of renewable sources of energy is ongoing, the world is still "energy hungry," and fossil fuels remain a dominant source of energy globally.
To summarize, while fossil fuel consumption is declining in specific regions, it continues to be a significant contributor to global energy consumption. The transition to renewable energy sources is crucial to reducing carbon emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change. As the world navigates the complex energy landscape, a sustained focus on developing and implementing low-carbon energy solutions is essential to mitigate the environmental impacts of fossil fuel consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to the Energy Institute's latest report on world energy, fossil fuels comprised 82% of the global energy mix in 2023.
Fossil fuels are fuels formed from the carbon-rich remains of animals and plants that decomposed and were compressed and heated underground millions of years ago. Examples include coal, oil, and natural gas.
When fossil fuels are burned, the stored carbon and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. This has led to dramatic changes in Earth's climate, and the trend is expected to worsen as more fossil fuels are burned.
Yes, renewable energy sources such as hydropower, biomass, wind, geothermal, and solar energy are reliable alternatives to fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is another zero-carbon alternative.
