US leads global CO2 emissions increase in 2025, report finds

By Seher Dareen
Reuters
June 29, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: United States, International

LONDON — The United States accounted for about a third of the rise in global carbon emissions in ​2025, as higher gas prices pushed power producers ‌back to coal, an Energy Institute report showed. Highlights from the report include:

  • US coal ​consumption jumped 10% last year, reversing a shift ​towards cleaner fuels and helping lift overall ⁠emissions.
  • Global carbon emissions from the energy sector rose ​1.1% to 35,806 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
  • Europe’s carbon emissions from the energy sector increased by 0.5%, while China’s rose by 0.7% in ​2025.’
  • Electricity demand rose ​faster than ⁠supply, increasing 3% year-on-year, driven by electric vehicles, data centres and artificial intelligence.
  • Global oil consumption ​rose 1.3% in 2025 to 103 million ​barrels ⁠per day, compared with a 1.1% increase in 2024.
  • In China, gasoline and diesel use declined ⁠last year, extending a ​trend in 2024.

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