In brief
New data indicate that global fossil fuel emissions are expected to reach record levels in 2025, underscoring the slow progress in curbing climate change. However, a significant increase in renewable energy, particularly solar, is helping to slow the growth of emissions. As nations converge for COP30, experts suggest that emissions may be near their peak, and underscore the need for drastic measures to limit global warming.
The world's burning of fossil fuels is set to release more planet-warming carbon dioxide than ever before this year, new figures show.
It is another sign that efforts to fight climate change by cutting emissions are moving far too slowly to meet international targets, as countries meet in Brazil for UN climate talks COP30.
But emissions have grown much less quickly over the past decade as renewables have taken off, providing hope that the world's warming trend can still be curbed.
And separate analysis by clean energy think tank Ember suggests that fossil fuel use in electricity generation has flatlined in 2025, largely thanks to the rapid growth of solar power.
This effect of the renewables boom is highlighted by emissions in the power or electricity sector.
Electricity generated from fossil fuels is forecast to flatline or even decline slightly this year, according to the think tank Ember, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ember is confident that emissions from using fossil fuels to generate electricity are now plateauing and could begin a permanent decline in a few years.
While there is still uncertainty about the exact timing of a peak, attaining it would be a landmark moment in the fight against climate change.
