Coal's Share of Global Energy Consumption at Highest Level Since 1970

In 2013 coal reached its largest share of the global energy market since 1970.

Coal has reached its highest market share of global energy consumption for more than 40 years, figures reveal, despite fears that its high carbon emissions make it a prime cause of climate change.  The use of coal for power generation and other purposes grew by 3% in 2013 – faster than any other fossil fuel – while its share of the market breached 30% for the first time since 1970, the BP Statistical Review reports.

That number comes from the BP Statistical Review, one of the energy industry's biggest fact dumps. 

Coal consumption was up 3 percent.  That's actually a decline from its 10-year average of growing 3.9 percent per year.  They say that's largely due to a decline in coal consumption growth in China, though even with its current wobbly economic growth, "the country still accounted for 67 percent of global growth.

Where to look next?  "India experienced its second largest volumetric increase on record and accounted for 21% of global growth," we read.  And they are just getting going.

Coal's Share of Global Energy Consumption at Highest Level Since 1970