As appetite for electricity soars, the world keeps turning to coal
Despite growing attention to cleaner energy, two-thirds of the world’s electricity is still produced by burning fossil fuels, mostly coal — a proportion that hasn’t budged for 35 years. Emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants have more than doubled since 1980 as the world’s demand for electricity keeps rising. This graphic is based on detailed annual analysis of electric generation and emissions by the International Energy Agency. The most recent year for which there are complete figures is 2012, but the relatively small changes since then have had little effect on overall trends. Read the related story, “U.S. exports it greenhouse-gas emissions.”
A mix of fossil fuels, nuclear and renew- ables power the globe
Percentage of world’s electricity in 2012 that was generated using these resources:
Coal
Natural gas
40.4%
22.5%
Renewables
Nuclear
Oil
21.2%
10.9%
5%
Coal includes peat and oil shale
Renewable energy sources include hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, biofuels and waste, and other types.
The demands of a developing world require more electricity
In 1980, a little more than 8 million gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity were generated around the world. By 2012, the output nearly tripled as the global population increased and developing countries had a greater demand for electricity.
Total world output
22.7 million GWh
2012
1980
8.3 million GWh
2012 world output, by fuel source
In gigawatt-hours
The use of fossil fuels to produce electricity comes at a cost — CO2 emissions
Of all the fossil fuels, coal releases the largest amount of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity and heat produced, and it remains by far the most widely used fuel. In 2012, coal was responsible for 72 percent of electric-sector emissions; in the past three years, the growth in coal consumption has slowed.
Total global CO2 emissions
13,346 million tons
Other
2012
1980
5,482 million tons
CO2 emissions in 2012, by fuel source
2,740 Mt
942 Mt
Other CO2 fuel source emissions, not shown,
include industrial and municipal waste.
Renewable and nuclear sources are near-zero carbon generators
China, U.S., India, Russia and Japan create the most power — and emissions
Electricity and heat generation is the
largest single source of CO2 emissions
globally – larger than transportation or
any other sector.
World’s leading carbon polluters
Emissions increase or decrease since 1980
CO2 emissions
2012 rank
in 2012, in
millions of tons
1
China
4,104 Mt
+1,248%
U.S.
India
Russia*
Japan
Germany
S. Korea
S. Africa
Saudi Arabia
Australia
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2,086
1,044
932
566
334
305
233
201
199
+36%
+1,163%
–20%
+91%
–16%
+1,108%
+145%
+718%
+127%
*Data prior to 1990 not available for Russia.
Since 1980
, India’s
India’s
carbon
emissions,
electricity capacity has
millions of tons
grown by a factor of
1,044
eight, and it still hopes
83
to extend electric power
1980
2012
to 300 million people
living without it.
4,104
China’s
carbon
emissions,
millions of
China’s electricity capacity today is nearly 20 times as large as it was in 1980.
tons
305
1980
2012
Coal power plants are the biggest polluters
72%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Coal is cheap, in part because of China’s economic slowdown, combined with the newly tapped abundant reserves of natural gas in the United States. This is placing significant negative pressure on efforts to develop and expand renewable sources of electricity — solar, wind and hydropower, among them. They are less able to compete economically.
Countries producing the most
CO2 emissions from coal in
2012, in millions of tons
Emissions increase or decrease since 1980
CO2 emissions
in 2012, in
2012 rank
millions of tons
1
China
4,015 Mt
+1,571%
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
U.S.
India
Russia
Japan
Germany
S. Africa
S. Korea
Australia
Poland
1,507
977
296
276
275
233
231
170
149
+32%
+1,264%
–32%
+337%
–18%
+145%
+6,768%
+112%
–31%
Natural gas emissions
21%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Of countries that use natural gas, U.S., Russia and Japan account for 48 percent of the world’s electricity and heat produced from this resource.
Countries producing the most
CO2 emissions from natural gas
in 2012, in millions of tons
Emissions increase or decrease since 1980
CO2 emissions
2012 rank
in 2012, in
millions of tons
1
Russia
567 Mt
+7%
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
U.S.
Japan
Iran
Saudi Arabia
Mexico
U.A.E.
Italy
Egypt
South Korea
531
175
80
77
61
59
56
52
52
+166%
+380%
+1,829%
+609%
+826%
+1,214%
+1,107%
+2,572%
+43,158%
Oil’s carbon footprint
7%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Saudi Arabia, Japan and Iran account for 44 percent of the world’s electricity and heat generated from oil.
Countries producing the most
CO2 emissions from oil in 2012,
in millions of tons
Emissions increase or decrease since 1980
CO2 emissions
2012 rank
in 2012, in
millions of tons
1
123 Mt
+805%
Saudi Arabia
Japan
Iran
Russia
Iraq
Mexico
Kuwait
Indonesia
U.S.
India
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
111
63
54
45
39
34
28
25
25
–44%
+577%
–73%
+716%
+25%
+535%
+319%
–87%
+147%
Note: Figures for CO2 emissions include fuels used
for electricity and heat generation. Percent changes
may not match rounded total displayed.
A mix of fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables sources power the globe
Percentage of world’s electricity that is generated using these resources:
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
Nuclear
Renewables
Coal includes peat and oil shale.
Renewable energy sources include hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, biofuels and waste, and other types.
The demands of a developing world require more electricity
In 1980, a little more than 8 million GWh, or gigawatt-hours, of electricity were generated around the world. By 2012, the output nearly tripled as the global population increased and developing countries had a greater demand for electricity.
Global electricity generation in gigawatt-hours (GWh)
Total world output
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
Nuclear
Renewables
22.7 million GWh
9.2 million
5.1
1.1
2.5
4.8
2012
1980
3.1 million
1.0
1.7
0.7
1.8
8.3 million
Percentage change may not match because the totals have been rounded.
But the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity comes at a cost: CO2 emissions
Of all the fossil fuels, coal releases the largest amount of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity and heat produced, and it remains by far the most widely used fuel. In 2012, coal was responsible for 72 percent of electric-sector emissions; in the past three years, the growth in coal consumption has slowed.
Total global CO2 emissions in 2012, in millions of tons (Mt)
Total emissions
Renewable and nuclear sources are near-zero carbon generators
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
13,346 Mt
9,547
2,740
942
2012
Other CO2 fuel source
emissions, not shown,
include industrial and
1980
municipal waste.
5,482 Mt
3,466
634
1,378
China, U.S., India, Russia and Japan create the most power — and emissions
Electricity and heat generation is the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions globally – larger than transportation or any other sector.
Global CO2 emissions in 2012, in millions of tons
South
Korea
EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
Russia
932
97
CANADA
Germany
U.K.
179
POLAND
85
China
305
155
334
4,104 Mt
KAZAKHSTAN
UKRAINE
U.S.
132
SPAIN
2,086 Mt
ITALY
90
TURKEY
IRAN
127
113
Japan
145
566
India
1,044
201
EGYPT
133
MEXICO
73
90
MALAYSIA
Saudi
Arabia
OCEANIA
159
54
BRAZIL
South Africa
INDONESIA
199
54
ARGENTINA
233
MIDDLE EAST
SOUTH AMERICA
AFRICA
ASIA
Australia
Top 10 carbon-polluting countries in bold
Since 1980, India’s electricity capacity has grown by a factor of eight, and it still hopes to extend electric power to 300 million people living without it. China’s capacity today is nearly 20 times as large as it was in 1980. In sub-Saharan Africa, where just 24 percent of the population has access to electric power, demand is likely to grow exponentially in the years ahead.
Coal-burning power plants are the biggest polluters
72%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Coal is cheap, in part because of China’s economic slowdown, combined with the newly tapped abundant reserves of natural gas in the United States. This is placing significant negative pressure on efforts to develop and expand renewable sources of electricity — solar, wind and hydropower, among them. They are less able to compete economically.
Total CO2 emissions in 2012 from coal, in millions of tons
Carbon emissions from coal from the world’s leading coal burners —
China, the United States and India — accounted for nearly 50 percent
of all fossil fuel emissions.
Carbon footprint of natural gas
21%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Of countries that use natural gas, U.S., Russia and Japan account for 48 percent of the world’s electricity and heat produced from this resource.
Total CO2 emissions in 2012 from natural gas, in millions of tons
The outer ring represents total carbon emissions, in millions of tons, from electricity produced by coal, natural gas and oil.
Oil’s carbon footprint
7%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran account for 44 percent of the world’s electricity and heat generated from oil.
Total CO2 emissions in 2012 from oil, in millions of tons
The outer ring represents total carbon emissions, in millions of tons, from electricity produced by coal, natural gas and oil.
Note: Figures for CO2 emissions include fuels used for electricity and heat generation.
A mix of fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewables power the globe
Percentage of world’s electricity that is generated using these resources:
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
Nuclear
Renewables
Renewable energy sources include hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, biofuels and waste, and other types.
Coal includes peat and oil shale
The demands of a developing world require more electricity
In 1980, a little more than 8 million gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity were generated around the world. By 2012, the output
nearly tripled as the global population increased and developing countries had a greater demand for electricity.
Total world output
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
Nuclear
Renewables
22.7 million GWh
9.2
5.1
1.1
2.5
4.8
2012
1980
3.1
1.0
1.7
0.7
1.8
8.3 million GWh
Percentage change may not match because the totals have been rounded.
But the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity comes at a cost: CO2 emissions
Of all the fossil fuels, coal releases the largest amount of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity and heat produced, and it remains by far the most widely used fuel. In 2012, coal was responsible for 72 percent of electric-sector emissions; in the past three years, the growth in coal consumption has slowed.
Total CO2 emissions
Coal
Natural gas
Oil
13,346 million tons
9,547
2,740
942
Other
2012
Renewable and nuclear sources are near-zero carbon generators
Other CO2 fuel source emissions,
not shown, include industrial and
1980
municipal waste.
5,482 million tons
3,466
634
1,378
China, U.S., India, Russia and Japan create the most power — and emissions
Electricity and heat generation is the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions globally — larger than transportation or any other sector. Since 1980, India’s electricity capacity has grown by a factor of eight, and it still hopes to extend electric power to 300 million people living without it. China’s capacity today is nearly 20 times as large as it was in 1980. In sub-Saharan Africa, where just 24 percent of the population has access to electric power, demand is likely to grow exponentially in the years ahead.
Total global CO2 emissions in 2012: 13,346 million tons
Top 10 carbon-polluting countries in bold
Russia
NORWAY
932
SWEDEN
NORTH KOREA
NETHERLANDS
CANADA
97
DENMARK
POLAND
U.K.
IRELAND
179
54
South Korea
85
KAZAKHSTAN
155
China
Germany
BELGIUM
305
U.S.
4,104
334
FRANCE
132
UKRAINE
46
2,086 million tons
TURKEY
90
PAKISTAN
42
127
113
Japan
145
IRAQ
SPAIN
GREECE
IRAN
566
ITALY
KUWAIT
48
ISRAEL
HONG KONG
QATAR
India
Saudi Arabia
ALGERIA
1,044
BANGLADESH
133
UAE
MEXICO
VIETNAM
EGYPT
MOROCCO
201
73
90
PHILIPPINES
MALAYSIA
ETHIOPIA
NIGERIA
VENEZUELA
159
KENYA
SINGAPORE
CONGO
54
BRAZIL
NEW ZEALAND
INDONESIA
199
CHILE
54
The ring represents total carbon emissions, in millions of tons, from electricity and heat produced
by coal, natural gas and oil.
South Africa
ARGENTINA
Australia
233
Coal-burning power plants are the biggest polluters
72%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Coal is cheap, in part because of China’s economic slowdown, combined with the newly tapped abundant reserves of natural gas in the United States. This is placing significant negative pressure on efforts to develop and expand renewable sources of electricity — solar, wind and hydropower, among them. They are less able to compete economically. Total CO2 emissions in 2012 from coal, in millions of tons:
Carbon emissions from coal from the world’s leading coal burners —
96 percent of China’s emissions come from coal.
China, the United States and India — accounted for nearly
50 percent of all fossil fuel emissions.
NETHERLANDS
U.K.
IRELAND
BELGIUM
The outer ring represents total carbon emissions, in millions of tons, from electricity produced by coal, natural gas and oil.
Carbon footprint of natural gas
Oil’s carbon footprint
21%
of all fossil fuel emissions
7%
of all fossil fuel emissions
Of countries that use natural gas, Russia, the United States and Japan account
Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran account for 44 percent of the world’s electricity and heat generated from oil.
for 48 percent of the world’s electricity and heat produced from this fuel.
Total CO2 emissions in 2012, in millions of tons
Total CO2 emissions in 2012, in millions of tons
Top 3 countres in bold
The outer ring represents total carbon emissions, in millions of tons, from electricity produced by coal, natural gas and oil.
Note: Figures for CO2 emissions include fuels used for electricity and heat generation.
Source: International Energy Agency
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