The report is produced by leading research international organisations, including CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, as part of the Global Carbon Project and provides an overview of the global carbon cycle, including both natural and human-induced emissions.
CSIRO global carbon project executive director Pep Canadell said the report shows global CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels continue to rise despite significant increases in the use of renewable energy.
“We have seen a 0.8 per cent increase in global CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels in 2024, compared to 2023,” Dr Canadell said.
“This equates to a total of 37.4 billion tonnes of CO₂ projected to be emitted in the atmosphere from fossil fuel use this year alone."
Emissions from fossil fuels are projected to increase in the future.
“Globally, emissions from land-use change have decreased by 20 per cent in the past decade but are rising this year, along with fossil fuel emissions,” Dr Canadell said.
“We have observed over the past two years how the capacity of natural CO₂ sinks on land which absorb carbon from the atmosphere, mainly forests, have declined due to drought in the Amazon and fires in Canada.
“The CO₂ sinks have begun to recover but the data underscores how vulnerable they are to droughts and extreme heat, which are increasing with global warming.”
There has been a decline or slowing of global CO₂ emissions across 22 countries. However, there is a 50 per cent chance of the Paris Agreement’s target of 1.5°C warming in six years being overtaken.
KEY FINDINGS ON CARBON
The growth in 2024 fossil emissions comes on top of a 1.4 per cent growth in 2023 emissions.
CO₂ emissions from land-use changes such as deforestation have on average declined over the past decade, meaning total emissions from both fossil fuels and natural sources have stabilised over the last decade.
Globally, fossil fuel CO₂ emissions come from coal (41 per cent), oil (32 per cent) and gas (21 per cent).
China contributed 32 per cent of total global CO₂ emissions, followed by the United States (13 per cent), India (8 per cent) and the European Union (7 per cent).
By the end of 2024, CO₂ concentrations are projected to reach 422.5 parts per million, which is 52 per cent above pre-industrial levels (circa 1750).
Australia had a 0.4 per cent decrease in CO₂ fossil fuel emissions in 2023, with this downward trend expected to continue.
