The explosion in human population seen since the Industrial Revolution, and especially within the last century, has created a huge demand for energy to power society. The main source of energy for billions of people worldwide is fossil fuels, which causes huge environmental damage and is driving climate change, leading to a warming planet.
Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are 31.5 Gt, despite the fall in emissions during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the average annual CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was 412.5 parts per million. This is 50% higher than when the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century.
