Fossil fuel use, emissions at record high in 2023

Growing demand for fossil fuel despite the scaling up of renewables could be a sticking point for the transition to lower carbon energy. — Reuters

LONDON: Global fossil fuel consumption and energy emissions hit all-time highs in 2023, even as fossil fuels’ share of the global energy mix decreased slightly on the year, the industry’s Statistical Review of World Energy report says.

Growing demand for fossil fuel despite the scaling up of renewables could be a sticking point for the transition to lower carbon energy as global temperature increases reach 1.5°C, the threshold beyond which scientists say impacts such as temperature rise, drought and flooding will become more extreme.