About three‑quarters of the world’s total primary energy still comes from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, and we mostly use that energy for transportation, electricity, heating/cooling, and industry. In simple terms, fossil fuels still power most cars, planes, factories, and a big share of the electricity that keeps lights, phones, and the internet running.

How much energy comes from fossil fuels?

  • In 2023, about 77% of global primary energy use came from fossil fuels.
  • Fossil fuels also produced over 60% of the world’s electricity supply in 2023.
  • Non‑energy uses (like making plastics and chemicals) account for roughly 8% of global fossil fuel consumption, on top of what is burned for energy.

So even with the growth of renewables like wind and solar, fossil fuels still dominate the global energy mix.

What do we use that energy for?

Most fossil fuel energy is burned to provide a few key services in everyday life.

1. Transportation

  • Oil‑based fuels (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel) power most cars, trucks, ships, and airplanes worldwide.
  • This includes everything from personal commuting to global shipping and aviation, making transportation one of the biggest fossil fuel users.

2. Electricity generation

  • Coal and natural gas are burned in power plants to produce steam, turn turbines, and generate electricity for homes, businesses, and the digital economy.
  • Despite rapid growth of renewables, fossil fuels still supply the majority of grid power in many countries.

3. Heating and cooling

  • Natural gas, heating oil, and sometimes coal are used for space heating and hot water in homes, offices, and public buildings.
  • In some regions, fossil fuels also power district heating systems and provide fuel for industrial boilers.

4. Industry and manufacturing

  • Fossil fuels power energy‑intensive industries such as steel, cement, chemicals, and refining, often through high‑temperature heat and steam.
  • Coal‑derived coke is used in blast furnaces to turn iron ore into iron, and natural gas is key in making hydrogen, ammonia, and other industrial chemicals.

5. Non‑energy uses (materials and products)

  • Around 8% of fossil fuels are not burned but used as raw materials for products.
  • These include:
    • Plastics and synthetic fibers
    • Fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and solvents
    • Asphalt for roads, lubricants, and various industrial chemicals

Why this matters now

  • Burning fossil fuels produces most human‑caused carbon dioxide emissions, driving climate change and related impacts like extreme weather and sea‑level rise.
  • At the same time, fossil fuels remain deeply embedded in how societies move, build, farm, and connect, which is why shifting to cleaner energy sources is complex and gradual rather than instant.

In 2026, the core tension is this: fossil fuels still do most of the work in the global energy system, but the world is under pressure to phase them down fast enough to limit climate damage.

TL;DR:
Roughly three‑quarters of global energy and over 60% of electricity still come from fossil fuels, mainly to run transportation, generate power, heat buildings, drive heavy industry, and produce materials like plastics and fertilizers.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.