Asia coal use up 197% since 2000 drives global emissions rise

A new report from MacroBusiness highlights that Asia's coal consumption has surged 197% since 1999, reaching 38.23 TWh by the end of 2024. Asian nations now account for 60.6% of global carbon emissions, with the region responsible for all of the world's emissions growth this century. The article points to a continued reliance on coal despite renewable energy pledges. For carbon markets and climate policy, this data underscores the gap between renewable energy targets and actual fossil fuel use in Asia. The trend suggests that without stronger policy intervention and financing for grid decarbonization, emissions from the region will keep rising. Investors and policymakers should watch how this affects carbon credit demand and the credibility of national climate commitments.