Emissions from the energy sector in the European Union fell sharper in 2023 than ever before, according to a new report from Ember published on Wednesday.
"Fossil fuels are playing a smaller role than ever as a system with wind and solar as its backbone comes into view," said Sarah Brown, an expert with the climate and energy think tank.
According to a report, the 19% drop in emissions is partly due to major reductions in electricity generation from coal and gas - falling 26% and 15% respectively.
Ember reported that fossil fuels now account for less than a third of the EU's electricity generation for the first time while wind and solar energy continued to grow.
Together wind and solar generated a record 27% of EU electricity in 2023, more than a quarter of the energy mix for the first time.
According to Ember, wind energy generated 18% of EU electricity, which corresponds to 475 terawatt hours, equivalent to the entire electricity demand of France.
For the first time, wind power accounted for more than gas.
Overall, the share of renewable energies in EU electricity generation rose to a record 44%.
The think tank found that falling demand for electricity also contributed to the decline in electricity generation from fossil fuels.
However, this decline in demand is not expected to be repeated in the coming years, as electrification is on the rise.