CO2 emissions from fuel combustion

CO₂ emissions grew by 1.5% in 2024, fuelled by the BRICS, especially China and India.

Global CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion continued to increase in 2024 (+1.5%), in a context of rising energy consumption and record air traffic.
The largest increases in emissions came from China (+2%) and India (+5%), which together accounted for 43% of global CO₂ emissions; higher electricity demand amid heatwaves and steady economic growth in these two coal-intensive countries contributed to this rise, which is in line with the 2010-2019 average (though slower than in 2023). CO₂ emissions also surged in Indonesia (+9%) and in Vietnam (+14%) over a soaring coal consumption; their increase was moderate in Russia (+1%), Türkiye (+2%), Brazil and Mexico (+1% each). Overall, the share of BRICS in global CO₂ emissions continues rising, reaching 51% in 2024 (up from 28% in 2000 and 40% in 2010).
On the contrary, CO₂ emissions decreased in the largest EU countries (including -3% in Germany), in the UK (-4%, over continuous coal phase out and rising renewable power generation), in Japan and South Korea (-2% and -3%, respectively, over higher nuclear and renewable power generation), and in North America, though at a slower pace due to higher gas-fired generation (-0.5% only in the US and -1% in Canada). Emissions also contracted by 4% in Argentina, where coal-fired power generation halved in 2024.