Global transportation sector CO₂ emissions 1970-2023

Global transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions increased four percent in 2023 year-on-year, to 8.24 billion metric tons (GtCO₂). This accounted for roughly 21 percent of global CO₂ emissions that year, making transportation the second-highest emitting sector worldwide, behind only the power industry.

Transportation emissions trends

Global transportation emissions grew almost threefold from 1970 through 2023, owing to factors such as rising populations and growing economies. Emissions from the sector only fell in six years during this entire period. The biggest reductions occurred in 2020, when CO₂ levels plummeted 14 percent year-on-year. While transportation emissions need to be cut significantly to reach net zero, so far only major global crises, including COVID-19 and economic downturn, have had any notable impact CO₂ levels.

Impact of electric vehicles on emissions

There are many technologies that are set to help achieve net zero transportation emissions, including alternative fuels for aviation and shipping. However, it is the electric vehicle transition that is likely to play the most important role in decarbonizing the sector. Between 2019 and 2023, 35 million electric cars were sold worldwide, resulting in avoided annual emissions of 60 MtCO₂. In 2023, electric cars accounted for a 16 percent share of global passenger car sales.