Global CO2 emissions reached 51.9 gigatons in 2023. That same year, renewable power capacity grew to 1,530 gigawatts worldwide. These figures capture the simultaneous scale of the climate challenge and the accelerating energy transition.
Key Takeaways
- 1,530 gigawatts of renewable power capacity existed globally by end of 2023, according to IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024 dataset
- Over 70% of new power generation capacity additions in 2023 were renewable sources in most regions, as summarized by Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2024
- Global renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 4,900 GW by 2030 under current stated policies, as forecast by IRENA in its World Energy Transitions Outlook summary
- Only 9% of plastic packaging is recycled globally, according to a 2020 report by OECD and partners and repeated in OECD’s plastics outlook material
- In 2019, the global recycling rate for paper and paperboard was 58.2%, based on data used in OECD’s Global Plastics Outlook and broader material recycling statistics compilation
- WHO estimates that 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds guideline limits for PM2.5 in 2019, based on WHO’s Air quality estimates
- 4.2 million deaths globally in 2016 were attributed to outdoor air pollution, as reported in the Lancet Commission on pollution and health
- 25% of lung cancer deaths were attributable to air pollution in 2019 in the WHO systematic analysis used for health impact estimates
- $2.6 trillion of sustainable finance mobilized globally in 2022 across bonds, loans, and other products was reported by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) and market surveys
- The EU’s Fit for 55 package sets a target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, as codified in EU legislation
- The US Inflation Reduction Act provides about $369 billion for energy and climate spending over 10 years as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate
- 1.5 million heat-related deaths were estimated globally in 2019 due to extreme heat, based on the Lancet Countdown report’s health risk assessments
- Approximately 10% of global flood risk is expected to be affected by sea-level rise by 2050 compared with baseline (depending on emissions pathway), as modeled by the OECD in its flood risk assessments
- The fraction of global population exposed to at least one climate hazard increased by 26% between 2000 and 2019 in an analysis by the IPCC and related geospatial assessments summarized in IPCC AR6 WGII
- 6.1% of total final energy consumption came from electricity in 2022, with 1.6 percentage points of growth since 2012 (IEA data).
Renewables are accelerating fast, but air pollution and climate risks still drive millions of deaths worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Energy Transition4 stats
01
1,530 gigawatts of renewable power capacity existed globally by end of 2023, according to IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024 dataset
02
Over 70% of new power generation capacity additions in 2023 were renewable sources in most regions, as summarized by Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2024
03
Global renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 4,900 GW by 2030 under current stated policies, as forecast by IRENA in its World Energy Transitions Outlook summary
04
Heat pumps accounted for 7% of global residential heating equipment sales in 2023, based on the IEA’s Heat Pump progress metrics
Interpretation
Energy Transition Interpretation
With 1,530 GW of global renewable capacity already in place by end of 2023 and renewable sources accounting for over 70% of new power additions that year, the Energy Transition is clearly gaining real momentum, while IRENA’s outlook points to 4,900 GW of renewables by 2030 under stated policies.
02 · Category
Waste & Circularity2 stats
01
Only 9% of plastic packaging is recycled globally, according to a 2020 report by OECD and partners and repeated in OECD’s plastics outlook material
02
In 2019, the global recycling rate for paper and paperboard was 58.2%, based on data used in OECD’s Global Plastics Outlook and broader material recycling statistics compilation
Interpretation
Waste & Circularity Interpretation
Waste and circularity remain a major challenge because only 9% of plastic packaging is recycled globally while paper and paperboard do better at a 58.2% global recycling rate in 2019.
03 · Category
Health & Air Quality6 stats
01
WHO estimates that 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds guideline limits for PM2.5 in 2019, based on WHO’s Air quality estimates
02
4.2 million deaths globally in 2016 were attributed to outdoor air pollution, as reported in the Lancet Commission on pollution and health
03
25% of lung cancer deaths were attributable to air pollution in 2019 in the WHO systematic analysis used for health impact estimates
04
In 2021, global cost of air pollution to human health was estimated at $5.1 trillion in welfare losses, per OECD estimates reported in its report series on air pollution costs
05
Ozone (O3) exposure accounted for an estimated 254,000 deaths globally in 2019 due to ambient air pollution, as reported in a global burden study
06
A 2020 European study estimated that air pollution exposure contributed to about 238,000 premature deaths in 2015 in Europe, as summarized in peer-reviewed work
Interpretation
Health & Air Quality Interpretation
For the Health and Air Quality category, air pollution remains a massive global health driver with WHO estimating that 99% of people in 2019 breathed air above PM2.5 guideline limits and with millions of deaths tied to pollution, including 4.2 million in 2016 from outdoor air pollution and 254,000 ozone related deaths in 2019.
04 · Category
Investment & Policy9 stats
01
$2.6 trillion of sustainable finance mobilized globally in 2022 across bonds, loans, and other products was reported by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) and market surveys
02
The EU’s Fit for 55 package sets a target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, as codified in EU legislation
03
The US Inflation Reduction Act provides about $369 billion for energy and climate spending over 10 years as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate
04
$100 billion per year is the developed-country climate finance goal for mitigation and adaptation, as set in UNFCCC decisions and reiterated in UN climate finance materials
05
In 2022, climate finance provided and mobilized by developed countries totaled $89.6 billion according to OECD analysis summarized in the UNFCCC climate finance dashboard
06
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) transitioned to reporting phase in 2023 and starts financial obligations in 2026, based on EU CBAM regulation
07
As of 2024, 198 countries and the EU are Parties to the Paris Agreement, per UNFCCC status of ratification
08
The number of nationally determined contributions submitted as of the end of 2024 was 193, according to UNFCCC NDC Registry counts
09
2030 EU renewables share target is 42.5% with an indicative 45% to be achieved, per the recast Renewable Energy Directive
Interpretation
Investment & Policy Interpretation
Investment and Policy efforts are clearly scaling up as sustainable finance surged to $2.6 trillion in 2022 and major policy commitments follow, including the EU’s Fit for 55 aiming for a 55% net emissions cut by 2030 and the US Inflation Reduction Act funding about $369 billion for energy and climate over 10 years.
05 · Category
Climate Risks & Resilience6 stats
01
1.5 million heat-related deaths were estimated globally in 2019 due to extreme heat, based on the Lancet Countdown report’s health risk assessments
02
Approximately 10% of global flood risk is expected to be affected by sea-level rise by 2050 compared with baseline (depending on emissions pathway), as modeled by the OECD in its flood risk assessments
03
The fraction of global population exposed to at least one climate hazard increased by 26% between 2000 and 2019 in an analysis by the IPCC and related geospatial assessments summarized in IPCC AR6 WGII
04
The IPCC AR6 estimates that climate change has caused observable increases in heavy precipitation and drought in many regions, quantified in the report’s attribution chapters
05
Arctic sea ice extent in September in 2023 was about 760,000 sq km, near the annual minimum observed in NASA’s Cryosphere data
06
Global land degradation affects about 1.3 billion hectares of land (equivalent to about 25% of Earth’s land area) as reported by the UNCCD Global Land Outlook 2022
Interpretation
Climate Risks & Resilience Interpretation
From an estimated 1.5 million heat-related deaths in 2019 to flood risk expected to be shifted for about 10% of global exposure by 2050 and a 26% rise in the share of people facing at least one climate hazard since 2000, the data show that climate risks are intensifying and spreading faster than resilience systems can keep up.
06 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
6.1% of total final energy consumption came from electricity in 2022, with 1.6 percentage points of growth since 2012 (IEA data).
02
34.3% of global primary energy came from coal in 2022 (BP Statistical Review/energy mix compilation).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, electricity’s share of total final energy reached 6.1% in 2022 up 1.6 percentage points since 2012, but coal still dominated global primary energy at 34.3% in 2022, signaling a huge market base that remains heavily fossil driven.
More related reading
07 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
8.7% of global final energy consumption was supplied by renewables in 2022 (renewables share in final energy).
02
Wind and solar together provided 14.4% of global electricity generation in 2023 (share of generation).
03
90% of the global installed desalination capacity is in the Middle East and North Africa and select countries (capacity concentration share).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In industry trends for the Environment, renewables are still scaling with only 8.7% of global final energy coming from them in 2022 and 14.4% of electricity generation from wind and solar in 2023, while desalination capacity is highly concentrated with 90% located in the Middle East and North Africa plus select countries.
08 · Category
Material Flows2 stats
01
13% of plastic waste is recycled (global plastic waste recycling rate for plastics in OECD outlook material).
02
12.6% of global municipal solid waste (MSW) is recycled (global MSW recycling share).
Interpretation
Material Flows Interpretation
In the material flows of waste, only about 13% of plastic waste and 12.6% of global municipal solid waste are recycled, showing that most materials still leave the loop rather than circulating back into use.
09 · Category
Waste & Pollution1 stats
01
6.4 million deaths in 2016 were attributable to air pollution from outdoor sources in the GBD study (outdoor air pollution deaths).
Interpretation
Waste & Pollution Interpretation
In 2016, 6.4 million deaths were attributed to outdoor air pollution, underscoring how major waste and pollution harms continue to drive extreme health burdens under the Waste and Pollution category.
10 · Category
Water & Land2 stats
01
34.6% of cropland is affected by soil degradation globally (global cropland degradation share).
02
1.9 billion hectares of land are degraded worldwide (land degradation extent estimate).
Interpretation
Water & Land Interpretation
Within the Water and Land category, 34.6% of global cropland is already affected by soil degradation, translating into about 1.9 billion hectares of degraded land worldwide.
11 · Category
Climate & Energy2 stats
01
51.9 gigatons of CO2 were emitted globally in 2023, including land-use change and fossil fuel combustion (global total CO2 emissions estimate).
02
7.2 ppm increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration from 2022 to 2023 (Mauna Loa annual mean growth).
Interpretation
Climate & Energy Interpretation
In the Climate and Energy category, global CO2 emissions rose to 51.9 gigatons in 2023 and atmospheric CO2 climbed by 7.2 ppm from 2022 to 2023, showing that both energy related fossil fuel use and land use change are continuing to drive rapid increases in the concentration of a key greenhouse gas.
report visual · Key figures
Environment Statistics
Renewables are expanding, but major environmental risks remain widespread.
1,530
1,530 gigawatts of renewable power capacity existed globally by end of 2023, according to IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Sta
70%
Over 70% of new power generation capacity additions in 2023 were renewable sources in most regions, as summarized by Emb
99%
WHO estimates that 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds guideline limits for PM2.5 in 2019, based on
10%
Approximately 10% of global flood risk is expected to be affected by sea-level rise by 2050 compared with baseline (depe
760,000
Arctic sea ice extent in September in 2023 was about 760,000 sq km, near the annual minimum observed in NASA’s Cryospher
14.4%
Wind and solar together provided 14.4% of global electricity generation in 2023 (share of generation).
source-verifiedirena.org · ember-climate.org · who.int · oecd.org · climate.nasa.gov2050
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Environment Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/environment-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Environment Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/environment-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Environment Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/environment-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)