3.1.1Active indicatorEnergy Systems and Health
3.1Energy use, energy generation, and health
3.2Air quality and health co-benefits
3.3Food, agriculture, and health co-benefits
3.5Health-care Sector Emissions
Indicator 3.1.1 · Mitigation
Energy Systems and Health
The energy sector is the largest single contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 68% of the total. The transition towards zero-emission energy is therefore key to mitigate climate change and protect human health. Additionally, if health is kept a core consideration in this transition, it can also reduce the health harms and prevent the millions of deaths caused annually by fossil fuel-derived air pollution, promote more equitable and stable access to clean energy, and ultimately reduce inequities and support healthy, sustainable development. Coal combustion continues to be a major contributor to emissions from the energy sector and is a major contributor to premature mortality due to air pollution. Coal phase-out particularly urgent to protect people’s health from immediate harms, as well as for those posed by climate change. Continued growth in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar sources, alongside improved energy efficiency, is key to replacing fossil fuels, increase more equitable access to clean energy, and support mitigation goals. This indicator draws on data from the international energy agency to track progress towards the transition away from fossil fuels, and towards zero-emission energy systems.
Headline finding
Global energy-related CO₂ emissions grew by 0.8% during 2024, reaching a record 37.8 Gt and pushing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations to a historic 422.5 ppm
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Figure 1
Energy systems and health
Using data from the International Energy Agency, this figure shows the carbon intensity of the energy system (tonnes of CO2 for every Terajoule of energy), total CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion (Gigatonnes of CO₂), the share of total energy supply generated from coal (%), and the share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources (%), shown by country, Human Development Index group, WHO region and Lancet Countdown region, from 1990 to 2023.
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About this indicator
Description
"This indicator includes three components: 1) the carbon intensity of the energy system, 2) coal phase out, and 3) use of renewables.
This indicator tracks the carbon intensity of the energy system, both at global and regional scales, expressed as the CO2 emitted per terajoule of the total primary energy supply from 1990-2023 and global CO2 emissions from energy combustion by fuel in GtCO2 from 1990-2023.
This indicator also reports on progress towards a global phase-out of coal, tracking the total primary energy supply from coal and coal’s share of total electricity generation.
Finally, this indicator tracks electricity generation and the share of total electricity generation from all low-carbon sources (nuclear and all renewables, including hydro) and renewables (wind and solar, excluding hydro and biomass).
Caveats
IEA data are generated using both direct input from national governments and modelling. As such, while they represent the best available data on national CO2 emissions from fuel, they are subject to caveats which vary by energy commodity and country. Full details are given in the CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion documentation & IEA World Energy Balances documentation.
This documentation also covers changes to methodology in previous editions of IEA World Energy Balances. A typical example of the way data can be impacted by methodology updates by reporting countries is as follows, relating to Belgium ‘New data on consumption cause breaks in time series for primary solid biofuels between 2011 and 2012’. However, since data are aggregated, the impacts on overall trends is minimal.
Data sources
- IEA dataset Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy (previously called CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion): CO2 emissions from fuel combustion (detailed estimates) via the IEA website for institutional subscribers (last updated in October 2025- July 2025 edition with Corrigendum).
- IEA dataset titled “World Energy Balances- Extended Energy Balances,”2 accessed via the IEA website for institutional subscribers, with full data through 2023 (last updated in August 2025- July 2025 edition with Corrigendum).