Global co2 emissions hit all-time high in 2025 despite massive renewable energy growth

Despite unprecedented growth in renewable energy, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are set to reach a record-breaking 38.1 billion metric tons in 2025—a 1.1% increase from the previous year. This sobering milestone comes from the latest Global Carbon Budget report, a comprehensive analysis compiled by over 100 researchers tracking emissions data from 21 countries.

The emissions surge was driven by increases across major economies, with the United States leading at 1.9% growth, followed by India at 1.4% and China at 0.4%. International aviation emerged as a particular concern, with emissions jumping 6.8% as air travel continues rebounding post-pandemic. These rising emissions have pushed atmospheric CO2 concentrations to a projected 425.7 parts per million in 2025—a dramatic leap from just 317 ppm in 1960.

The findings underscore a troubling paradox in the global energy transition. Solar and wind power achieved remarkable milestones in 2025, supplying over 17% of global electricity thanks largely to China’s solar manufacturing boom, which now produces more than half the world’s solar panels. However, this renewable energy expansion hasn’t been sufficient to offset growing overall energy demand and fossil fuel consumption.

“With CO2 emissions still increasing, keeping global warming below 1.5°C is no longer plausible,” warned Pierre Friedlingstein, the University of Exeter climate scientist who led the study. The report also revealed that climate change itself is hampering our planet’s natural carbon absorption, with weakened land and ocean ecosystems accounting for about 8% of the atmospheric CO2 increase since 1960.