World Energy Consumption 1970-2023 - Fossil fuel percentage

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.

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".