World used record amount of fossil fuels last year, scientists say
Industries and individuals around the world burned record amounts of oil, gas and coal last year and emitted more greenhouse gases than ever before, warning that humanity is hurtling towards “climate chaos”, a group of leading scientists warned in a new report.
The increase in global use of fossil fuels in 2024 has contributed to extreme weather conditions and devastating disasters such as heat waves, storms, floods and wildfires.
“The planet’s vital signs are flashing red,” the scientists wrote in their annual report. report about the state of the climate. “The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing.”
Some of the most alarming among Earth’s “signs of life” are record temperatures in the oceans, researchers say destroying coral reefs, Rapidly shrinking ice sheets and increasing forest losses burned in fires all over the world. They said it was overcrowded Hurricane Melissa This week is another sign of how a changing climate is threatening lives and communities on an unprecedented scale.
“The climate crisis has reached a truly dangerous stage,” said William Ripple, a professor at Oregon State University who co-chaired the report. “It is vital that we limit future warming as quickly as possible.”
Ripple said there was still time to limit the damage. This means a transition to clean electricity, clean transportation, fewer meat and dairy cows, and other sources of harmful gases. These transitions are happening in some places, although not quickly enough.
For example, Fossil fuel use has actually fallen This is a remarkable change in China in the first half of this year for a country that remains the world’s biggest climate polluter. renewable energy It is being built there at such a rapid pace that it dwarfs the rest of the world. And clean energy is available in California two thirds of electricity In 2023.
Researchers stated that the total use of fossil fuels will increase by 1.5% in 2024. Energy Institute. Energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases have also reached an all-time high; This is the exact opposite of what should happen in the fight against climate change.
The report states that rising temperatures are contributing to increased electricity demand.
“Avoiding each degree of warming is critical,” the scientists wrote. “We are entering an era when only bold and coordinated action can prevent catastrophic consequences.”
reportThis assessment, published Wednesday in the journal BioScience, is the sixth annual assessment Ripple and his colleagues have compiled since writing the 2020 report. paper Declaring a climate emergency – a declaration signed by more than 15,800 scientists.
The current rate of warming greatly increases the risk of passing dangerous climate milestones, including vicious cycles of collapse of ice sheets, melting of carbon-rich permafrost and widespread deforestation, scientists said.
Ripple and his colleagues emphasized that adopting solutions to reduce emissions now can pay immediate dividends, and that these solutions will be much cheaper than dealing with the consequences of uncontrolled climate change.
President Trump and his administration’s efforts to increase oil, gas and coal production threaten to seriously slow the transition to clean energy, said Michael Mann, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
He and co-author Peter Hotez argue in the latest book: “Science Under SiegeOther nations must now take greater leadership as the United States and other oil-promoting governments seek to block action on climate change.
Other scientists who helped write the report said the Trump administration turned a blind eye to threats such as sea level rise, worsening drought and wildfires. decrease in agricultural production.
“The U.S. retreat from any effort to address environmental challenges is a scandal,” said Peter Gleick, co-founder and senior fellow at the Pacific Institute, a think tank in Oakland. “The rest of the world should ignore U.S. efforts to delay progress on these issues… and I hope other countries will continue to step up.”
Approaching United Nations climate conference Ripple said there could be a turning point, which will take place in Brazil in November, if countries move towards bold and transformative changes.
Solutions must not only include phasing out fossil fuels, but also the reality that humans are consuming resources faster than nature can replenish them, the scientists said. According to researchers estimated Two-thirds of the warming since 1990 can be attributed to the richest 10% of the world’s population due to “high-consumption lifestyles, high fossil fuel use per capita and investments.”
The scientists called for changes such as “reducing overconsumption” among the wealthy, protecting and restoring ecosystems, and shifting from meat-heavy diets to more plant-based foods.
“This isn’t just about reducing emissions. Tackling climate change requires more,” Ripple said. “It calls for deep, systemic change in how societies value nature, design economies, consume resources, and define progress.”
