Global emissions from coal-fired electricity generation increased 1.7 percent in 2023, to a record high of 9.45 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). Coal-fired electricity accounted for more than 66 percent of total global power sector emissions that year. Coal is by far the largest source of electricity generation worldwide, but it is also the most polluting fossil fuel, emitting twice as much carbon as natural gas when burned.
Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Characteristic
Coal
Gas
Other Fossil*
Bioenergy
Hydro
Solar
Wind
Nuclear
Other Renewables**
2023
9,452.11
3,854.13
519.01
146.76
99.74
77.38
26.77
13.8
3.38
2022
9,290.38
3,816.1
559.08
146.1
102.14
62.89
24.12
13.61
3.36
2021
9,177.86
3,755.86
546.64
142.4
101.59
50.17
21.22
14.2
3.28
2020
8,515.52
3,655.96
508.63
131.72
103.2
40.55
17.95
13.6
3.25
2019
8,880.84
3,676.94
549.32
124.56
100.39
33.53
16.06
14.1
3.13
2018
9,089.56
3,592.84
584.68
117.56
99.26
27.33
14.34
13.58
3.08
2017
8,759.56
3,457.23
650.3
110.96
96.41
21.16
12.83
13.23
2.97
2016
8,505.93
3,382.64
698.45
104.14
95.33
15.59
10.72
13.09
2.85
2015
8,476.55
3,221.65
736.24
103.03
92.27
12.17
9.29
12.87
2.75
2014
8,791.24
3,048.83
737.72
94.82
92.02
9.4
7.93
12.67
2.62
2013
8,641.41
2,934.98
776.85
87.37
90.07
6.27
7.14
12.39
2.42
2012
8,230.63
2,972.87
807.78
80.24
86.97
4.61
5.96
12.31
2.36
2011
8,197.29
2,785.5
773.41
73.78
82.87
3.02
4.95
13.23
2.3
02,5005,0007,50010,00012,50015,00017,500
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Figures aim to include full lifecycle emissions including upstream methane, supply-chain and manufacturing emissions, and include all gases, converted into CO₂ equivalent over a 100 year timescale.
*Other fossil includes generation from oil and petroleum products, as well as manufactured gases and waste.**Other Renewables generation includes geothermal, tidal and wave generation.
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Ember. (July 3, 2024). Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 04, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332010/power-sector-emissions-worldwide-by-source/
Ember. "Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. July 3, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332010/power-sector-emissions-worldwide-by-source/
Ember. (2024). Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332010/power-sector-emissions-worldwide-by-source/
Ember. "Power Sector Emissions Worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by Source (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 3 Jul 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332010/power-sector-emissions-worldwide-by-source/
Ember, Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332010/power-sector-emissions-worldwide-by-source/ (last visited May 04, 2025)
Power sector emissions worldwide from 2000 to 2023, by source (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph], Ember, July 3, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332010/power-sector-emissions-worldwide-by-source/
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