The Asia-Pacific region produced 19 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) from energy use in 2024. China's CO₂ emissions are by far the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, at more than 10 GtCO₂ per year. The second most polluting region in 2024 was North America, where 5.6 GtCO₂ were generated, the majority of which came from the U.S. Global CO₂ emissions growth Global CO₂ emissions from energy consumption have more than doubled since 1970, reaching a record high of 35.5 GtCO₂ in 2024. The rise in emissions is mainly due to rapidly growing economies and increasing energy demand in developing regions. This is especially the case in the Asia-Pacific region, where emissions have almost tripled since the turn of the century. The Middle East has also seen a dramatic rise in emissions, going from producing the lowest CO₂ emissions worldwide in 1965, to the fourth-highest as of 2024. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations The increased burning of fossil fuels - as well as deforestation and other human activities - has seen atmospheric CO₂ concentrations surge in recent decades. In 2023, global atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ reached a record high of 424.61 parts per million, which is roughly 50 percent higher than before the industrial revolution.

Emissions by Country

Quantifying Sources and Emission Levels

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About this dataset

This dataset provides an in-depth look into the global CO2 emissions at the country-level, allowing for a better understanding of how much each country contributes to the global cumulative human impact on climate. It contains information on total emissions as well as from coal, oil, gas, cement production and flaring, and other sources. The data also provides a breakdown of per capita CO2 emission per country - showing which countries are leading in pollution levels and identifying potential areas where reduction efforts should be concentrated. This dataset is essential for anyone who wants to get informed about their own environmental footprint or conduct research on international development trends

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How to use the dataset

This dataset provides a country-level survey of global fossil CO2 emissions, including total emissions, emissions from coal, oil, gas, cement, flaring and other sources as well as per capita emissions.

For researchers looking to quantify global CO2 emission levels by country over time and understand the sources of these emissions this dataset can be a valuable resource.

The data is organized using the following columns: Country (the name of the country), ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 (the three letter code for the country), Year (the year of survey data), Total (the total amount of CO2 emitted by the country in that year), Coal (amount of CO2 emitted by coal in that year), Oil (amount emitted by oil) , Gas (amount emitted by gas) , Cement( amount emitted by cement) , Flaring(flaring emission levels ) and Other( other forms such as industrial processes ). In addition there is also one extra column Per Capita which provides an insight into how much personal carbon dioxide emission is present in each Country per individual .

To make use of these columns you can aggregate sum up Total column for a specific region or help define how much each source contributes to Total column such as how many percent it accounts for out of 100 or construct dashboard visualizations to explore what sources are responsible for higher level emission across different countries similar clusters or examine whether individual countries Focusing on Flaring — emissions associated with burning off natural gas while drilling—can improve overall Fossil Fuel Carbon Emission profiles better understanding of certain types nuclear power plants etc.

The main purpose behind this dataset was to facilitate government bodies private organizations universities NGO's research agencies alike applying analytical techniques tracking environment changes linked with influence cross regions providing resources needed analyze process monitor developing directed ways managing efficient ways get detailed comprehensive verified information

With insights gleaned from this dataset one can begin identify strategies efforts pollutant mitigation climate change combat etc while making decisions centered around sustainable developments with continent wide unified plans policy implementations keep an eye out evidences regional discrepancies being displayed improving quality life might certainly seem likely assure task easy quickly done “Global Fossil Carbon Dioxide Emissions:Country Level Survey 2002 2022 could exactly what us

Research Ideas

• Using the per capita emissions data, develop a reporting system to track countries' progress in meeting carbon emission targets and give policy recommendations for how countries can reach those targets more quickly.
• Analyze the correlation between different fossil fuel sources and CO2 emissions to understand how best to reduce CO2 emissions at a country-level.
• Create an interactive map showing global CO2 levels over time that allows users to visualize trends by country or region across all fossil fuel sources

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit the original authors. Data Source

License

License: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) - Public Domain Dedication No Copyright - You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. See Other Information.

Columns

File: GCB2022v27_MtCO2_flat.csv | Column name | Description ...

Qatar has the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, at **** metric tons per person. Many countries in the Middle East had high levels emissions, especially when compared to countries in Africa. Greenhouse gas emissions worldwide Some of the Middle East’s largest oil producing countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are among the world’s largest carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitters per capita. Countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada also show disproportionately high levels of emission per inhabitant. Despite a relatively low population for its size, Canada’s CO₂ emissions have recently surpassed *** million metric tons, and the country is now amongst the largest producers of CO₂ emissions worldwide. Rising emissions Global greenhouse gas emissions have been on the rise since the industrial revolution began approximately 200 years ago. Over the past half-century CO₂ emissions have skyrocketed, and climbed to a record high in recent years. Yet, emissions fell considerably in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused disruptions to transportation and industrial activities.

In 2023, China was the biggest carbon polluter in the world by far, having released 11.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). Although the U.S. was the second-biggest emitter, with 4.9 GtCO₂ in 2023, its CO₂ emissions have declined by 13 percent since 2010. By comparison, China’s CO₂ emissions have increased by more than 38 percent in the same period. Cumulative emissions Although China is currently the world's largest carbon polluter, the U.S. has released far more historical carbon dioxide emissions, at more than 400 GtCO₂ since 1750. The wide gap between the two countries is because China's emissions have mostly been produced in the past two decades. Combined, the U.S. and China account for roughly 40 percent of cumulative CO₂ emissions since the Industrial Revolution began. Sources of emissions One of the largest sources of global CO₂ emissions is the power sector, with electricity produced by coal-fired power plants a significant contributor. In China, emissions from coal-fired electricity generation have soared since the turn of the century, and reached 5.2 GtCO₂ in 2023.

This bar chart displays carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) (Mt of CO2 equivalent) by continent using the aggregation sum. The data is about continents.

This bar chart displays carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) (Mt of CO2 equivalent) by ISO 2 country code using the aggregation sum in Western Africa. The data is about countries.

This bar chart displays carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) (Mt of CO2 equivalent) by country using the aggregation sum. The data is filtered where the date is 2023. The data is about countries per year.

The average for 2023 based on 189 countries was 4.76 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita. The highest value was in Palau: 81.21 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita and the lowest value was in Micronesia: 0 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This statistic displays the distribution of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide as of 2015, based on select regions. As of this year, some six percent of the global carbon dioxide emissions originated from the Middle East. Carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere through reforestation, soil improvements, and other carbon sinks.

Over the past two decades, many developing countries have experienced significant growth in per capita emissions. This is particularly the case in Asia. Fueled by rapid industrialization, per capita emissions in Vietnam have increased by almost 400 percent since 2000. Per capita emissions in China, India, and Indonesia have also increased substantially during this period. In comparison, per capita emissions in developed countries such as the United Kingdom have halved since 2000. Per capita emissions The growth in per capita emissions in China has coincided with the country becoming the world’s biggest emitter. However, despite the vast amounts of carbon dioxide China releases every year, its per capita emissions are far lower than in many other countries, at just eight metric tons per person. In comparison, the average American produces nearly 15 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. This is three times higher than the average per capita emissions worldwide. Emissions in oil producing countries Per capita emissions are noticeably higher in oil producing countries. In the Middle East region, Qatar and Kuwait average more than 25 metric tons of CO₂ per inhabitant. People in more populous oil producing countries, such as Canada and Australia, average roughly 15 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Over 50 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions in 2017 were concentrated in three regions: China, the United States, and the European Union. China was the largest carbon dioxide emitter in that year, accounting for 29 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

South Africa was the most polluting country in Africa in 2021. That year, it emitted nearly 436 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Egypt ranked second with around 250 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, followed by Algeria, Nigeria, and Libya. Additionally, South Africa and Libya had the highest CO2 emissions per capita among the African countries.

Africa’s low contribution to global emissions

Africa’s cumulative CO2 emissions amounted to around 48 billion metric tons in the period between 1884 and 2020. On the other hand, from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750 to 2020, the world emitted approximately 1.7 trillion metric tons of CO2. Africa’s contribution to the global carbon footprint has been relatively limited, as the continent accounted for less than three percent of the world’s cumulative CO2 emissions as of 2020. In contrast, the United States, Europe, and China have been the largest emitters worldwide.

Impact of climate change on Africa

Global warming has risen significantly with the increment of CO2 emissions since the Industrial era. In 2020, the world’s land and ocean surface temperature was approximately 0.98 degrees Celsius warmer than in the 20th Century. Africa also experienced significant temperature anomalies, especially in the last decade. Despite its low contribution to global emissions, the African continent is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In 2019, Chad, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were the countries with the highest vulnerability to and lowest readiness for the climate change impact in the world, according to the ND-GAIN Country Index.

By the end of 2023, the United States had emitted more than *** billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) into the atmosphere from fossil fuels and industry since the Industrial Revolution began. By 1990, the U.S. had emitted roughly *** GtCO₂. By comparison, China had produced ** GtCO₂ during the same time frame. However, China's emissions have soared in recent decades due to rapid economic development, and by 2023 the country's cumulative emissions had reached roughly *** GtCO₂. Combined, the United States and China have been responsible for almost ** percent of global historical CO₂ emissions since 1750.

Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry totaled 37.01 billion metric tons (GtCO₂) in 2023. Emissions are projected to have risen 1.08 percent in 2024 to reach a record high of 37.41 GtCO₂. Since 1990, global CO₂ emissions have increased by more than 60 percent. Who are the biggest emitters? The biggest contributor to global GHG emissions is China, followed by the United States. China wasn't always the world's biggest emitter, but rapid economic growth and industrialization in recent decades have seen emissions there soar. Since 1990, CO₂ emissions in China have increased by almost 450 percent. By comparison, U.S. CO₂ emissions have fallen by 6.1 percent. Nevertheless, the North American country remains the biggest carbon polluter in history. Global events cause emissions to drop The outbreak of COVID-19 caused global CO₂ emissions to plummet some 5.5 percent in 2020 as a result of lockdowns and other restrictions. However, this wasn't the only time in recent history when a major global event caused emissions reductions. For example, the global recession resulted in CO₂ levels to fall by almost two percent in 2009, while the recession in the early 1980s also had a notable impact on emissions. On a percentage basis, the largest annual reduction was at the end of the Second World War in 1945, when emissions decreased by 17 percent.

China accounted for 30 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023, making it the world's largest emitter by far. The United States and India followed. Combined, these three countries were responsible for roughly half of the 53 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) emitted in 2023.

This horizontal bar chart displays carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) (Mt of CO2 equivalent) by continent using the aggregation sum in Europe. The data is about countries.

The United States was the biggest emitter in history as of 2023, having released some *** billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) into the atmosphere since the birth of the industrial revolution. This accounted for roughly a quarter of all historical CO₂ produced from fossil fuels and industry. China is the second-largest contributor to historical emissions, having released over *** GtCO₂. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas and the main driver of climate change and rising temperatures. Regional emissions Europe had accounted for almost 100 percent of global cumulative CO₂ emissions produced between 1750 and 1850, with the United Kingdom the biggest contributor. However, the region's share of emissions shrank in the following decades as the U.S. emerged as a major industrial power. By 1950, the U.S.'s share of historical global CO₂ emissions had increased to ** percent, while Europe's had fallen to ** percent. China's contribution to historical emissions has soared Between 1750 and 1950, China had contributed less than one percent of total CO₂ emissions ever produced. However, soaring emissions in China in recent decades has seen the country's share of historical emissions rise to ** percent. This growth has been driven by China's rapid industrialization and its reliance on coal consumption for energy.

This bar chart displays carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) (Mt of CO2 equivalent) by countries using the aggregation sum in Africa. The data is about countries.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to remain the largest emitter of carbon dioxide over the coming decades. Forecasts show that emissions in the Asia-Pacific region could grow to 21.3 billion metric tons of CO2 (GtCO2) by 2030. Although emissions are expected to decline in the following years, they will remain well above 2020 levels by 2050. CO2 emissions in the Asia-Pacific region have increased massively since the 1960s, primarily driven by the economic growth of China. North America and Europe have historically been the two biggest polluters worldwide, but by emissions in these regions could be lower than Africa by 2050, should NDCs be achieved.

Saudi Arabia is the largest per capita emitter of fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) among G20 countries. In 2023, emissions in the Middle Eastern country amounted to just over ** metric tons per person (tCO₂/cap). Meanwhile, India had the lowest per capita CO₂ emissions, at around *** tCO₂/cap.

Population vs emissions Despite being the most populated G20 country, India has the lowest per capita CO₂ emissions of them all. This is mainly due to India’s economy being largely agrarian. Additionally, per capita energy consumption in the South Asian country is relatively low compared to many developed nations. On the other hand, Canada, which has a small population size of roughly ** million, had the second-largest emissions per capita in the G20. The North American country’s oil and gas industry is a key factor for this. Emissions from oil and gas production Other major oil and gas producers, such as Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Russia, are also among the biggest per capita emitters globally. Russia alone accounted for nearly a ******* of global GHG emissions from oil and gas production in 2022, while the U.S. contributed almost ** percent.