Global breakdown of CO₂ emissions 1750-2022, by fuel type
Coal was the main source of primary energy in 1750, and played a major role in the Industrial Revolution. It was also responsible for 100 percent of global CO₂ emissions until the late 1800s. By this point, other fuels like oil and gas had begun to play a role in the global economy. Since then, there has been a major shift in the distribution of global emissions as countries have changed their energy systems.