Greenhouse gas emissions, 2024.
Who is polluting the world?
In 2024, the world emitted a record 53.2 billion tonnes of CO₂e (+1.3 %). The EU is one of the few major economies to have reduced emissions (−1.8 %) and is now 35 % below 1990 levels.
Source: EDGAR / JRC, 2025.
New cars in the EU, 2025.
What are Europeans buying?
Petrol and diesel combined fell to 35.5 % of the market, down from 45.2 % the previous year.
Source: ACEA, 2026.
Electric share of new cars, 2025.
Two-speed Europe
96 %Norway
17,4 %EU average
6 %Italy
Source: ACEA, via best-selling-cars.com
Transport and climate in the EU, 2023.
How much does transport pollute?
31 %of all EU emissions come from transport
73 %of transport emissions come from road transport
52 %of transport emissions come from cars and vans
Unlike industry and energy, transport emissions are higher today than in 1990.
Source: European Environment Agency, 2025
Technology
Electric or petrol?
A comparison only makes sense when you look at the whole life cycle, vehicle size, mileage and the source of the electricity — not just tailpipe emissions.
IEA data and analysis
Energy
How green is the energy really?
Solar and wind farms have emissions from manufacturing, construction and disposal. A fair comparison counts emissions per kilowatt-hour generated over the whole lifetime.
IPCC: mitigation of climate change
Batteries
What happens to the battery?
Mining, refining and battery production have an environmental impact. Durability, repair, reuse and the actual recycling rate matter too — not just the theoretical possibility.
IEA: batteries and the energy transition
Fact-checking claims
Numbers before slogans
We distinguish direct emissions, life-cycle emissions, energy consumption and local air pollution. Every claim needs a source, a year and a clear methodology.
Our World in Data: energy
Short guides to find your way around the topic. Every claim has a source, and we separate measured data from estimates and forecasts.