Global CO2 concentration stands at 419.3 parts per million. Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius requires global net emissions to drop about 45 percent from earlier levels. Renewables now supply about 30 percent of electricity generation worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- The IPCC AR6 finds that limiting warming to 1.5°C requires global net CO2 emissions to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 in modelled pathways (AR6 SPM)
- Renewable electricity generation share reached about 30% globally in 2023, indicating scale-up of low-carbon generation (IRENA statistics)
- Global renewable power capacity additions were about 510 GW in 2023 (IRENA renewable energy capacity statistics), reflecting rapid mitigation deployment
- 19% lower global CO2 emissions in 2020 than 2019 due to COVID-19 impacts, per Global Carbon Budget 2020 analysis
- The concentration of CO2 reached 419.3 ppm in 2021 (annual mean), showing ongoing greenhouse gas rise
- Global greenhouse gas emissions (all greenhouse gases in CO2-eq) were about 59 GtCO2e in 2019, per IPCC AR6 WG3 inventory estimates
- 1.0°C global mean surface temperature is projected for 2030–2039 under the lowest forcing scenario assessed, relative to 1850–1900 in AR6
- Ocean heat content (0–2000m) increased by 12.0 ± 0.2 ZJ from 1960 to 2019, quantifying long-term energy uptake by oceans
- The Greenland ice sheet lost about 3,700 gigatonnes over 1992–2018 based on mass-balance studies summarized by NASA, demonstrating large cumulative losses
- Permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere has already warmed by about 1°C since 1900 in many regions, increasing thaw risk (IPCC AR6 summary value)
- Drought risk affected about 47% of the global land area historically, per IPCC AR6 assessment of hazards and exposure patterns
- Crop yields: under a 2°C global warming level, IPCC AR6 projects risks to food security and decreases in yields in some regions, with global impacts quantified across scenarios (AR6 WG2)
To stay near 1.5°C, emissions must fall fast while CO2, warming and ocean heat keep rising.
Related reading
01 · Category
Mitigation & Policy15 stats
01
The IPCC AR6 finds that limiting warming to 1.5°C requires global net CO2 emissions to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 in modelled pathways (AR6 SPM)[1]
02
Renewable electricity generation share reached about 30% globally in 2023, indicating scale-up of low-carbon generation (IRENA statistics)[2]
03
Global renewable power capacity additions were about 510 GW in 2023 (IRENA renewable energy capacity statistics), reflecting rapid mitigation deployment[2]
04
Electric vehicle sales reached about 14 million globally in 2023, according to IEA Global EV Outlook (mitigation via transport electrification)[3]
05
In 2023, solar PV was the cheapest source of new electricity in many regions; global weighted-average levelized cost targets were around US$0.04–0.06/kWh for utility-scale PV (IRENA LCOE ranges for 2023)[2]
06
In 2023, offshore wind auction prices were often in the US$40–70/MWh range in certain markets (IRENA offshore wind cost report values for 2023 auction/CM data)[2]
07
IEA estimates that clean energy investment reached about US$1.7 trillion in 2023, indicating scale of mitigation finance[3]
08
IEA estimates about US$2.0 trillion per year of clean energy investment is needed by 2030 to align with net-zero pathways (IEA assessment metric)[3]
09
CO2 emissions from energy industries (power sector) have declined in some regions; global coal generation fell by around 1% in 2023 (IEA electricity market updates quantify year-over-year changes)[3]
10
The share of global final energy consumption supplied by renewables was about 14% in 2022 (IRENA renewable energy shares metrics)[2]
11
Methane emissions: policies could reduce methane by about 45% by 2030 relative to 2019 levels in current pledges scenario analyzed by UNEP and partners (Global Methane Assessment)[4]
12
Under the Paris Agreement, 195 Parties had submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as of the latest UNFCCC status, enabling emissions reduction commitments[5]
13
UNFCCC reported that climate finance mobilized by developed countries reached US$ 115.9 billion in 2022 (biennial assessment/extended data in Standing Committee reports)[5]
14
Carbon capture and storage (CCS): the IEA estimates CCS capacity of about 40 GW in operation globally by 2023 (IEA CCS capacity tracking)[3]
15
Flaring: Global methane flaring emissions were on the order of ~30–40 MtCH4/year around recent years (IEA/World Bank estimates summarized in methane briefings), indicating mitigation opportunity[3]
Interpretation
Mitigation & Policy Interpretation
To keep warming to 1.5°C, the IPCC AR6 says global net CO2 emissions must fall about 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels, while the mitigation and policy picture is already improving with renewables reaching about 30% of global electricity in 2023 and adding roughly 510 GW of renewable capacity that year.
02 · Category
Greenhouse Gas Emissions4 stats
01
19% lower global CO2 emissions in 2020 than 2019 due to COVID-19 impacts, per Global Carbon Budget 2020 analysis[6]
02
The concentration of CO2 reached 419.3 ppm in 2021 (annual mean), showing ongoing greenhouse gas rise[7]
03
Global greenhouse gas emissions (all greenhouse gases in CO2-eq) were about 59 GtCO2e in 2019, per IPCC AR6 WG3 inventory estimates[1]
04
Since 1980, CO2 emissions from fossil fuels have increased from about 5.1 GtC/year to over 10 GtC/year, illustrating long-run growth[8]
Interpretation
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Interpretation
Greenhouse gas emissions remain on a strong upward trajectory despite a temporary 19% drop in global CO2 in 2020, with CO2 reaching 419.3 ppm in 2021 and total greenhouse gases around 59 GtCO2e in 2019, while fossil fuel CO2 emissions have more than doubled since 1980 from about 5.1 to over 10 GtC per year.
03 · Category
Temperature Change1 stats
01
1.0°C global mean surface temperature is projected for 2030–2039 under the lowest forcing scenario assessed, relative to 1850–1900 in AR6[1]
Interpretation
Temperature Change Interpretation
Under the temperature change category, the global mean surface temperature is projected to reach about 1.0°C in 2030–2039 even under the lowest assessed forcing scenario relative to 1850–1900 in AR6.
More related reading
04 · Category
Ocean & Cryosphere2 stats
Interpretation
Ocean & Cryosphere Interpretation
Ocean heat content in the top 2000 meters rose by 12.0 ± 0.2 zettajoules from 1960 to 2019, and alongside Greenland’s loss of about 3,700 gigatonnes from 1992 to 2018 this shows the Ocean and Cryosphere are absorbing and shedding enormous amounts of Earth’s energy and ice mass over recent decades.
05 · Category
Risk & Impacts6 stats
01
Permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere has already warmed by about 1°C since 1900 in many regions, increasing thaw risk (IPCC AR6 summary value)[1]
02
Drought risk affected about 47% of the global land area historically, per IPCC AR6 assessment of hazards and exposure patterns[1]
03
Crop yields: under a 2°C global warming level, IPCC AR6 projects risks to food security and decreases in yields in some regions, with global impacts quantified across scenarios (AR6 WG2)[1]
04
The World Health Organization estimates around 5 million deaths per year are attributable to air pollution; climate change can exacerbate by increasing heat and smoke exposure (WHO climate-health context quantified by baseline mortality)[11]
05
Since the start of the industrial era, human influence has likely increased the probability of compound heat extremes in some regions; AR6 quantifies ‘likely’ increases for certain heat extremes (probability-based statement with quantitative likelihoods in chapter)[1]
06
Coral reefs: 70–90% of warm-water coral reefs are projected to be lost between 2030 and 2050 under higher warming scenarios (IPCC AR6 synthesis)[1]
Interpretation
Risk & Impacts Interpretation
From thawing permafrost that has already warmed about 1°C since 1900 to heat and drought pressures reaching around 47% of global land historically and forecasts of losing 70–90% of warm-water coral reefs by 2030 to 2050, the risk and impacts of climate change are accelerating across ecosystems and human health and livelihoods.
report visual · Comparison
Mitigation targets and momentum
Recent assessments outline steep emissions cuts needed by 2030 while renewables continue scaling.
The IPCC AR6 finds that limiting warming to 1.5°C requires global net CO2 emissions to fall by about 45% from 2010 level45%
Renewable electricity generation share reached about 30% globally in 2023, indicating scale-up of low-carbon generation
30%
The share of global final energy consumption supplied by renewables was about 14% in 2022 (IRENA renewable energy shares
14%
source-verifiedipcc.ch · irena.org2023
Reference
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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Global Climate Change Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-climate-change-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Global Climate Change Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-climate-change-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Global Climate Change Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-climate-change-statistics.
Sources & references
11 sources cited across this report