Climate Crisis: Fossil Fuel Emissions Rise but Renewables Shine

Thu Nov 13 2025 15:54:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Global fossil fuel emissions are set to hit record levels this year, raising alarms about climate change initiatives. Yet, a surge in renewable energy offers a glimmer of hope for a more sustainable future.

Despite a forecast of rising fossil fuel emissions expected to reach 38.1 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2025, the rapid increase in renewable energy, especially solar power, marks a significant turning point in global efforts against climate change. Emissions are growing at a much slower pace compared to past decades, showcasing the impact of clean energy developments. Countries meeting at COP30 in Brazil are urged to act decisively in addressing climate challenges to avoid severe consequences.

The world's burning of fossil fuels is set to release more planet-warming carbon dioxide than ever before this year, new figures show.

It is another sign that efforts to fight climate change by cutting emissions are moving far too slowly to meet international targets, as countries meet in Brazil for UN climate talks COP30.

But emissions have grown much less quickly over the past decade as renewables have taken off, providing hope that the world's warming trend can still be curbed.

And separate analysis by clean energy think tank Ember suggests that fossil fuel use in electricity generation has flatlined in 2025, largely thanks to the rapid growth of solar power.

This effect of the renewables boom is highlighted by emissions in the power or electricity sector, where electricity generated from fossil fuels is forecast to flatline or even decline slightly this year. This has happened even amidst a rise in electricity demand.

While fossil fuel emissions continue to increase, experts suggest this could mark a peak, attributing the slower growth to significant advances in renewable energy, particularly solar.

However, climate scientists warn that simply slowing emissions is not enough; to mitigate climate change effectively, global emissions need to reach net-zero levels.

At COP30, experts emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive climate action to avoid severely surpassing safe temperature thresholds.