Fossil fuels vs renewables Where the worlds top 20 emitters stand

China, the United States and India are ranked the top three CO2 emitters, with Australia falling in 15th place, according to the most recently available data from Our World in Data.

Globally, the data shows coal, followed by gas, is the largest source of electricity production. Of the low-carbon sources, hydropower and nuclear make up the largest contribution, although wind and solar are growing quickly. 

In 2019, 36.7 per cent of global electricity was low-carbon (26.3 and 10.4 per cent from renewables and nuclear energy respectively), while the remaining 63.3 per cent came from fossil fuels, mostly coal and gas. 

But this percentage of low-carbon sources is higher in some countries. 

Where do the top emitters stand? 

Professor Howden said renewables are being rolled out at huge rates in the United States. "And, right across Europe, we see a very fast roll-out of renewables, and similarly in China and various other countries," he said. 

The graphic shows China's total electricity production has increased from 1,319.1 TWh (terawatt-hour) in 2000 to 7,623.7 TWh in 2020, including 5,044.96 TWh in fossil fuels, 2,212.54 TWh in renewables and 366.2 TWh in nuclear energy. In that time, its share of fossil fuels has dropped from 81.7 to 66.17 per cent while renewables have increased from 16.92 to 29.02 per cent. 

Ranked in second place, the United States' total electricity production rose from 3,802.11 TWh in 2000 to 4,049.85 TWh in 2020. Its share of fossil fuels dropped from 70.94 to 60.05 per cent in that time, while renewables increased from 9.23 to 20.04 per cent and nuclear remained steady at about 19 per cent. 

Ranked in 17th place, the United Kingdom, which produced a total of 305.48 TWh in 2020, has seen a marked decline in the share of coal in its electricity production.

In the late 1980s, coal made up more than 60 per cent of the UK’s electricity production, according to Our World In Data. The graphic shows this fell to 32.04 per cent by 2000 and 1.74 per cent by 2020, with its total fossil fuel share dropping from 74.62 to 40.74 per cent.  

Meanwhile, its share of renewables increased from 2.66 to 42.3 per cent during that time. Its nuclear energy use has dropped from 22.72 to 16.96 per cent. 

Other notable countries though include Canada - ranked 11th. Its share of renewables started at 61.77 per cent in 2000, compared to 26.48 per cent fossil fuels, and rose to 68.62 per cent by 2020. Its share of fossil fuels dropped to 16.64 per cent while nuclear rose slightly to 14.84 per cent. 

Meanwhile, in Brazil - ranked 13th - renewables accounted for 84.23 per cent in 2020, down from 90.26 per cent in 2000. 

What about Australia? 

The graphs show Australia ranked in 15th place and with a total electricity production of 251.35 TWh in 2020, including 188.84 TWh in fossil fuels, 62.5 TWh in renewables and 0 nuclear energy. 

It shows Australia's share of electricity production has seen fossil fuels decline from 91.21 to 75.13 per cent between 2000 and 2020, with coal dropping from 82.50 to 53.75 per cent. 

Meanwhile, renewables have risen from 8.79 to 24.87 per cent, including an increase in solar (0.02 to 7.42 per cent) and wind (0.03 to 9.76 per cent) and a drop in hydro (8.17 to 6.41 per cent). 

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