[en] Highlights: • The share of fossil fuel in global primary energy consumption has remained steady since 1990. • CO_2 emissions from coal use increased the most (by 3.76 Gt) in developing countries. • CO_2 emissions from natural gas use increased the most in developed countries. • Infrastructure built was the dominant emission driving forces in developing countries. - Abstract: This paper analyzes global CO_2 emissions growth by fossil fuel type (coal, oil or gas), demand type (consumption or investment), country group (developed or developing country) and industry group. The results indicate that, among the three fossil fuels, CO_2 emissions from coal use grew the most rapidly in developing countries, by 3.76 Gt in the period 1995–2009. By contrast, CO_2 emissions from natural gas use grew the most rapidly in developed countries, by 470 Mt in the period 1995–2009. Further decompositions show that, despite improvements in energy efficiency, the upgrades in infrastructures and changes in electricity requirements in developing countries have led to significant CO_2 emissions growth from coal use. Among these countries, China accounts for a high contribution, causing a coal-use-related CO_2 emissions growth of up to 2.79 Gt in the period 1995–2009. By contrast, consumption by the public and social services as well as chemical products is the dominant force driving CO_2 emission growth from gas in developed countries; the US accounts for a very high contribution, causing a gas-use-related CO_2 emissions growth of up to 100 Mt.