Global Energy Emissions Rise 1.1% in 2025; US Coal Rebound Drives Growth, China Oil Demand Falls

According to Energy Institute's latest Statistical Review of World Energy in partnership with Ember, Kearney, and KPMG, global energy sector carbon emissions increased 1.1% in 2025 to 358.06 billion metric tons of CO2. The U.S. coal consumption surged 10%, accounting for approximately one-third of global emissions growth, as high natural gas prices forced U.S. power generators to return to coal and reverse a decade-long trend toward cleaner energy sources.

Globally, renewable energy generation expanded 9.1% year-over-year, with solar power leading growth at 30%. Meanwhile, China's gasoline and diesel demand continued to decline from 2024, reflecting ongoing shifts in transportation energy structure.