Defossilize the Earth
The science is unambiguous: burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of climate change, and the window to prevent its worst consequences is closing. Defossilize tracks the global campaign to transition away from coal, oil, and natural gas — with data on what is working, what is not, and what comes next.
The Scale of the Problem
Fossil fuels currently supply approximately 80% of the world's primary energy. The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas releases over 36 billion tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere annually — a figure that has increased in most years despite decades of climate commitments.
Emissions by Sector
- Energy & electricity generation — 25% of global emissions
- Transportation — 16% (road vehicles, aviation, shipping)
- Industry — 21% (steel, cement, chemicals, manufacturing)
- Buildings — 6% (heating, cooling, cooking)
- Agriculture & land use — 18%
Solutions Scaling Now
Renewable Energy
Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of new electricity in most of the world. Global renewable capacity additions are breaking records every year.
- Solar PV — Costs have fallen 90% since 2010; installations exceed 400 GW per year
- Onshore wind — Competitive with fossil generation in most markets
- Offshore wind — Rapidly scaling, with floating turbine technology opening new regions
- Battery storage — Grid-scale lithium-ion costs continue to fall, enabling round-the-clock renewable power
Electrification
Replacing fossil fuel combustion with electricity from clean sources across transportation, heating, and industrial processes.
- Electric vehicles — EV sales now represent over 20% of new car sales globally
- Heat pumps — Three to four times more efficient than gas furnaces, scaling rapidly in Europe and North America
- Industrial electrification — Electric arc furnaces for steel, electric kilns for ceramics, and hydrogen for chemical feedstocks
Clean Hydrogen
Green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity via electrolysis can decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify directly — shipping fuel, long-haul aviation, steel production, and seasonal energy storage.
What You Can Do
- Electrify your home — Switch from gas to heat pump heating and induction cooking
- Drive electric — EVs are cheaper to fuel and maintain than combustion vehicles
- Choose clean energy — Opt for renewable energy plans from your utility or install rooftop solar
- Vote and advocate — Support policies that price carbon, fund clean energy R&D, and phase out fossil fuel subsidies
- Divest — Move investments away from fossil fuel companies toward clean energy and sustainable funds
Why Defossilize
- Comprehensive data — Emissions tracking, renewable deployment stats, and policy progress in one place
- Solutions focus — We cover what is working, not just what is broken
- Actionable guidance — Practical steps for individuals, businesses, and communities
- Updated regularly — New data and analysis as the transition accelerates
The transition from fossil fuels is the defining challenge of our time. Follow the data. Join the movement.