Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels increased by 1.2 percent in 2025, reaching a new record high of 37.8 billion metric tons, according to a report published Monday by the Global Carbon Project. The increase came despite record additions of renewable energy capacity worldwide, highlighting the challenge of displacing fossil fuels fast enough to meet climate targets.
Emissions growth was driven primarily by increased coal consumption in developing nations and continued expansion of natural gas use for power generation. China and India accounted for roughly two-thirds of the global increase, while emissions in the United States and European Union declined modestly.
Climate scientists say the data underscores the urgent need to accelerate the energy transition. Dr. Piers Forster of the University of Leeds noted that global emissions need to fall by approximately seven percent per year to remain on track for the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree Celsius target — a pace that appears increasingly out of reach.
