Stolen from LinkedIn;
Unstoppable Rise in Global Coal Consumption (1965-2023)
Ah, coal—Mother Nature's ancient gift to humanity, sitting beneath the Earth's crust, waiting for us to dig it up and keep the lights on. Despite the EU and the US making valiant (and let’s be honest, half-hearted) attempts to phase out fossil fuels (Just between you and I, we know these are not Fossil Fuels ) we've now arrived at the next chapter: "Decarbonize the economy!" The latest mantra is built on the assumption that we can magically replace an efficient, naturally-occurring resource like coal with energy sources that only work when the sun's shining or the wind's blowing. Brilliant, right?
In 2023, global coal consumption surpassed 164 exajoules for the first time. That's right—while some are busy installing solar panels and wind turbines that take up more land than a small European country, coal continues to account for a hearty 26% of the world’s total energy consumption. In other words, it's still very much alive and kicking.
China Leads in Coal Consumption**
And who’s leading the coal party? Surprise, surprise—it’s China! In 2023, China burned through a whopping 91.94 exajoules, which is 56% of the global total” Just a small hint ! They manufacture most our products there “. Not far behind, we have India, “ Again let’s remember that most of our ex. Heavy steel factories and iron Industries are located in India” theyre clocking in at 21.98 exajoules, and then there’s the U.S., putting in a modest 8.20 exajoules. Fun fact: India, for the first time, consumed more coal than Europe and North America combined in 2023, proving that while others are cutting back, they’re still all-in on the black stuff.
Regional Shifts in Coal Consumption
Now, it’s not all bad news for the “let’s save the planet” crowd. North America, Europe, and the rest of the world have seen their coal consumption take a nosedive since the 1990s. But before you start celebrating, don’t forget that the Asia-Pacific region has made up for this decline—and then some. Since around 2000, their coal consumption has skyrocketed, because, you know, they still need electricity to function, and solar-powered smartphones just aren’t cutting it.
So, while the West tinkers with decarbonization fantasies, Asia-Pacific is cranking up the coal-powered machines. It’s the energy story of our time—because nothing says "progress" like doing the exact opposite of what everyone said we'd do.
And for more context;