US coal ‘biggest contributor by far’ to rise in global emissions.The rise in coal use was largely driven by the growth of data centres.

A DRAMATIC increase in US coal consumption was “by far the biggest contributor” to the overall increase in global CO2 emissions last year, a report has revealed.

According to the Energy Institute’s latest Statistical Review of World Energy, US coal consumption increased by 10% in 2025, compared to a 0.7% rise globally. The review’s chief Selene Law told reporters last week that the growth in US coal “is the main reason why we have seen global CO2 emissions rise this year. In fact, the US is by far the biggest contributor to this.” 

The rise in coal use was largely driven by the growth of data centres. Last year, US energy secretary Chris Wright said coal would be “essential” to “winning the AI race”, while Law added that “data centre power demand is really driving the gas prices up in the US so it is likely that this huge surge for coal demand will continue”. The Energy Institute’s analysis did not cover the period following the US-led attacks on Iran, during which oil and gas prices have frequently surged above $100/bbl.