CO2 intensity

Global CO₂ intensity declined by 2.9% in 2025, faster than over the 2010-2019 period.

In 2025, the global CO₂ intensity (CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP at constant purchasing power parity) declined by 2.9%, faster than its average 2.2%/year decline over the 2010-2019 period. In 2025, it stood 27% below its 2010 level.
This decrease is due to strong decreases in China (-5%) and India (-7%) as both countries stabilised CO₂ emissions thanks to soaring solar and wind generation and as China’s industry reoriented towards less CO₂-intensive, high added-value high-tech branches. However, their CO₂ intensity remains significantly higher than the global average (+56% and +13%, respectively).
CO₂ intensity declined in most countries, with some major exceptions, as the United States (+1%) and Canada (+2%), where fossil fuel consumption grew faster than the GDP (mainly for power generation in the USA and for transports in Canada). In Brazil, higher fossil fuel consumption in the power sector and rebounding transport emissions also raised CO₂ intensity (+1%).
Higher renewable power generation contributed to cut the CO₂ intensity in Europe (-2%), Japan (-3%), South Korea (-2%), and Australia (-4%). It also decreased in Saudi Arabia (-5%), in South Africa (-2%), in Russia (-2%), in Mexico and in Indonesia.