Chapter 1, Key Finding 3

Global fossil fuel emissions of CO₂ increased at a rate of about 4% per year from 2000 to 2013, when the rate of increase declined to about 2% per year. In 2014, the growth in global fossil fuel emissions further declined to only 1% per year (Olivier et al., 2016). During 2014, the global economy grew by 3%, implying that global emissions became slightly more uncoupled from economic growth, likely a result of greater efficiency and more reliance on less carbon intensive natural gas and renewable energy sources. Emissions were flat in 2015 and 2016 but increased again in 2017 by an estimated 2.0% (high confidence).