Global coal use hits record, despite renewables boom
Global coal consumption hit a record high in 2024, even as renewable energy surged, according to a State of Climate Action report. Rising electricity demand meant more coal was burned overall, threatening efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement.
While the report says solar and wind grew “exponentially,” their expansion needs to double to meet decade-end emissions targets. Industrial emissions, particularly from steel, remain high, and the carbon footprint of heating buildings is not shrinking fast enough. Deforestation is also continuing at alarming rates, with over 8m hectares lost last year.
Some governments, including India and the US under Donald Trump, are doubling down on coal, though these impacts could be offset if other major players like China and the EU continue favouring renewables.
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