CO2 Emissions By Country: Who's Responsible for Climate Change?

4. Russian Federation

The Russian Federation contributed five percent of the world’s total CO₂ emissions in 2020. Despite its lower percentage of total emissions, the Russian Federation still ranked at number seven in the world for per capita emissions in 2018. This continues to show the large disparity between per capita emissions and emissions from production, electricity, and more.¹

5. Japan

In 2020, Japan emitted three percent of the world’s CO₂ emissions and in 2018, ranked number eight in the world for per capita emissions. The size of the nation, coupled with the population make these numbers understandable. ¹

6. Tied for Emissions Amounts At Two Percent: Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Canada

Each country that contributed two percent of the world’s CO₂ emissions in 2020 was Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Canada. In the 2018 rankings by per capita emissions, Saudi Arabia ranked number one in the world though! This shows that consumers make a contribution to total CO₂ emissions in the world, but not as much as produced in industrial production, commercial use, and electricity.¹

7. Tied For Emissions Amounts At One Percent: Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, and France

In 2020, each country that contributed one percent of the world’s CO₂ emissions was Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, and France. The rest of the world that was not included in this list contributed the remaining total of 21 percent of CO₂ emissions.¹

CO₂ Emissions by Economic Sector–What’s Driving Global Emissions?

The amount of CO₂ emissions each country produces is vastly different from the amount of CO₂ emissions produced per capita. This brings to light how much economics plays into the causes of global warming versus the average person. In 2010, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel and industrial processes contributed 65 percent of global greenhouse gases.

Here is a breakdown of global emissions by sector:

Electricity/Heat

In 2010, 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions by country came from the production of electricity and heat. This involves burning natural gas, oil, and coal.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use

In 2010, 24 percent of emissions came from land use, due to agriculture and deforestation. Agriculture can be attributed to both raising livestock and crops. While this percentage looks large, an estimate of 20 percent was offset by biomass, which naturally captures carbon from the environment.

Transportation

In 2010, 15 percent of emissions came from the burning of fuel for vehicles on the road, in the air, and on the water. Of that, 95 percent of fuel worldwide for transportation vehicles comes from petroleum sources such as gasoline.² This provides a glimmer of hope on what we can do as individuals when it comes to selecting a vehicle and limiting our travel. Bear in mind though that the production of vehicles are included in the 21 percent of global greenhouse emissions from industrial production in 2010 as well.

Industry

Industrial production contributed 21 percent of global greenhouse emissions in 2010. Almost every material item you use on a day-to-day basis was made in a factory and feeds into a system of continually making more items that require fossil fuel, chemical, and mineral processes that emit CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Building and Construction

Onsite energy required for buildings (such as fuel for cooking) contributed six percent of global emissions in 2010, making it a lower concern compared to the massive impact of industrial production and agriculture. Every incremental step can help reduce our emissions though, so building emissions should not be disregarded.

Other Energy

All other processes of extracting energy that were not included here contributed to the remaining ten percent of emissions in 2010.

How Have Global Emissions of Carbon Dioxide Changed Over Time?

From 800,000 years ago to even just 100 years ago, the world has seen an all-time high in carbon dioxide emissions, thanks to industrialization. While we have experienced improvements in emissions during certain years, it is going to require significant change from consumers, governments, and corporations to make an impact.

In 2019, China contributed 10.17 billion tons of CO₂ emissions versus their 24.26 million tons in 1919.³ The United States has made an improvement from 2007 with a peak of 6.13 billion tons of CO₂ emissions to 2019 with 5.28 billion tons of CO₂ emissions. But in comparison to 1919’s emissions of 1.48 billion tons, the United States needs more drastic improvement.

This rise in emissions is not just in the two leading countries of global emissions. In 2019, India contributed 2.62 billion tons versus 43.05 million tons in 1919.

How Do We Make Progress in Reducing Global Emissions?

As an individual, it is crucial to consider where your material goods come from, how you get from place-to-place, and what you eat. While the majority of emissions comes from the production of goods, you have the power to influence what goods are created.

Purchasing more sustainable materials, shopping locally, reducing the meat and dairy you eat, and researching what food is growing seasonally near you are just some of the changes you can start implementing toward a better future, right now.

You can do Your Part Too!

No matter what you do, you will always have some sort of carbon footprint. We all do! That is why it is important to offset your carbon emissions. When you put your money toward purchasing carbon offsets, you contribute to the planting of trees that naturally pull carbon from the environment and provide habitat to animals.