CO2 emissions from fuel combustion

CO₂ emissions grew by less than 1% in 2025, spurred by the USA, while China’s emissions stagnated.

Global CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion slightly increased in 2025 (+0.5%), as higher emissions in the USA and Indonesia were partly offset by declining emissions in China and Russia, while emissions remained stable in the EU and India.
Indeed, solar and wind contributed to stabilise CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion in many countries: they dipped by less than 1% in China, the largest emitter with 33% of global emissions, where emissions from transport also declined amid a rapid rollout of EVs. CO₂ emissions also decreased over higher CO₂-free power generation in Japan and Australia (-2% each) and over lower electricity and industrial demand in Russia (-1%). CO₂ emissions remained stable in India amid declining coal-fired generation but higher transport and industry emissions, and in Europe (slight drop in the energy sector and stable transport emissions).
On the other hand, the largest increases in emissions occurred in the USA (+3%) and in Indonesia (+4%), where coal consumption significantly increased in the power sector (and for nickel refining in Indonesia). CO₂ emissions also rose by nearly 3% in Africa (including a 15% surge in Nigeria, while emissions remained stable in South Africa) and by 1% in the Middle East, spurred by Iran and the UAE (stable emissions in Saudi Arabia).
Variations in hydropower availability also had an impact on CO₂ emissions, with higher hydropower generation cutting CO₂ emissions in Mexico and Colombia, while lower hydro volumes in Brazil raised fossil-fired power generation and CO₂ emissions (+3%).
CO₂ emissions also increased noticeably in Canada (especially in the transport and building sectors), in Malaysia and in Kazakhstan over higher oil and gas production.