Global carbon emissions and decarbonization in 2025

Abstract

Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes increased by +0.7% within 2025. However, large-scale deployment of clean electricity sources during the year avoided 10.3 Gt of global CO2 emissions, so that power sector emissions declined by –0.9% relative to 2024. As the remaining carbon budget for limiting global warming to 1.5 °C is projected to be exhausted by 2029 at a 50% likelihood, further accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels is essential for staying within the 2 °C temperature rise limit.