Global Emissions Hit New High as Fossil Fuel Use Offsets Clean Energy Gains
• Global carbon emissions from energy use hit a new record high in 2022, rising 1.1% to 37.4 billion metric tons • The increase was partly driven by more fossil fuel usage in countries where droughts reduced hydropower output • Clean energy sources like wind, solar, and electric vehicles expanded but not enough to offset the emissions growth • U.S. emissions fell 4.1% in 2022, mostly due to declines in the electricity sector • China saw a 5.2% increase in emissions as economic activity rebounded post-pandemic, even as it continued investing heavily in renewables