World Energy Consumption 1970-2023 - Fossil fuel percentage
Information on the charts
This analysis contains only the 60-odd countries that have reported on energy consumption by source for the full period since 1970. It includes the major polluters - China, US, India, Russia, Japan, and Indonesia.
The units on the vertical axis of each chart are percentages of fossil fuel consumption. Current world consumption of fossil fuels is around 80% per year, having fallen from over 90% in 1970.
Kyoto Protocol agreements
Parties involved in developing the 1997 Kyoto Protocol agreed that a subset of countries (mostly 'developed') would begin reducing greenhouse gases starting in 2008. The idea was more would join in as conditions permitted. At the 2016 Paris Agreement, it was agreed emissions would have to be cut by 50% in 2030 to keep temperatures below 1.5°C.
The charts below indicate the percentage of fossil fuels each country will consume if the trend from 2008 to 2023 were to continue to 2030. Only 8 countries in the list will have their fossil fuel consumption below 50% by 2030. Clearly, a lot of countries have no interest - or no ability - to make the drastic cuts needed.
The charts also show how long it will take each country to reach 0% fossil fuel use, if the 2008 to 2023 trend were to continue. Only 7 countries are set to achieve this outcome this century, if current trends continue (and ifthere is the will to do so).
NOTE 1: As you hover over the charts, you'll see more information on the data. On a phone, drag across the charts.
NOTE 2: You can sort the countries by either percentage of fossil fuel use (smallest first) or by years to reach 0% fossil fuel use, if the current rate of decrease is continued.
NOTE 3: Of course, consumption of fossil fuels is not equivalent to emissions produced, but it serves as a good proxy.
NOTE 4: "Net zero" is one of the many distractions invented by the fossil fuel industry. Carbon capture and storage will never achieve the same as "actual zero" fossil fuel emissions, nor will buying offsets or planting trees. We should be aiming for "Zero carbon".
Data source: Our World in Data.
% Fossil Fuel Consumption by Country and Year
As you hover over the charts, you'll see more information on the data. On a phone, drag across the charts.
Legend
Non-fossil fuel sources
Fossil fuel sources
Sort
Sorted alphabetically
World
Years to reach 0%: 234
Algeria
Years to reach 0%: 10,275
Argentina
Years to reach 0%: 591
Australia
Years to reach 0%: 122
Austria
Years to reach 0%: 133
Bangladesh
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Belgium
Years to reach 0%: 162
Brazil
Years to reach 0%: 125
Bulgaria
Years to reach 0%: 117
Canada
Years to reach 0%: 973
Chile
Years to reach 0%: 110
China
Years to reach 0%: 103
Colombia
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Cyprus
Years to reach 0%: 173
Denmark
Years to reach 0%: 29
Ecuador
Years to reach 0%: 61
Egypt
Years to reach 0%: 1,003
Finland
Years to reach 0%: 30
France
Years to reach 0%: 191
Germany
Years to reach 0%: 134
Greece
Years to reach 0%: 74
Hong Kong
Years to reach 0%: 1,936
Hungary
Years to reach 0%: 176
Iceland
Years to reach 0%: 184
India
Years to reach 0%: 359
Indonesia
Years to reach 0%: 181
Iran
Years to reach 0%: 1,104
Iraq
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Ireland
Years to reach 0%: 71
Israel
Years to reach 0%: 218
Italy
Years to reach 0%: 138
Japan
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Kuwait
Years to reach 0%: 17,425
Luxembourg
Years to reach 0%: 138
Malaysia
Years to reach 0%: 192
Mexico
Years to reach 0%: 284
Morocco
Years to reach 0%: 277
Netherlands
Years to reach 0%: 99
New Zealand
Years to reach 0%: 160
Norway
Years to reach 0%: 105
Oman
Years to reach 0%: 2,114
Pakistan
Years to reach 0%: 236
Peru
Years to reach 0%: 557
Philippines
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Poland
Years to reach 0%: 170
Portugal
Years to reach 0%: 77
Qatar
Years to reach 0%: 5,852
Romania
Years to reach 0%: 112
Russia
Years to reach 0%: 756
Saudi Arabia
Years to reach 0%: 17,425
Singapore
Years to reach 0%: 5,136
South Africa
Years to reach 0%: 388
South Korea
Years to reach 0%: 715
Spain
Years to reach 0%: 99
Sri Lanka
Years to reach 0%: 593
Sweden
Years to reach 0%: 35
Switzerland
Years to reach 0%: 130
Taiwan
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Thailand
Years to reach 0%: 281
Trinidad and Tobago
Years to reach 0%: ∞
Turkey
Years to reach 0%: 131
United Arab Emirates
Years to reach 0%: 266
United Kingdom
Years to reach 0%: 64
United States
Years to reach 0%: 212
Venezuela
Years to reach 0%: 323
Vietnam
Years to reach 0%: 208
Copyright © Murray Bourne