Annual greenhouse gas emissions per person (height of vertical bars) and per country (area of vertical bars) of the fifteen high-emitting countries as of December 2021
Human activities that release greenhouse gas emissions intensify the greenhouse effect, which contributes to climate change. The majority of these emissions come from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, with the largest emitters being coal in China and major oil and gas companies.
The increase in human-caused emissions has raised atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by approximately 50% compared to pre-industrial levels. Emissions of all greenhouse gases have been consistently increasing and averaged 56 billion tons per year in the 2010s, higher than any previous decade.
The primary sources of emissions are electricity generation, heat production, and transportation, which together account for roughly 73% of emissions.
The primary sources of emissions are electricity generation, heat production, and transportation, which together account for roughly 73% of emissions. Deforestation and land use changes also release carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
Agriculture is the largest source of human-caused methane emissions, with livestock being the primary contributor.
Agriculture is the largest source of human-caused methane emissions, with livestock being the primary contributor. Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils are also a significant factor due to fertilizer use. Additionally, fluorinated gases from refrigerants have a notable impact on overall emissions.
The average emissions per person are 6.5 tonnes per year
If current emission rates continue at an average of six and a half tonnes per person per year, temperatures may rise by an average of 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels before 2030. This increase is the limit for the G7 countries and the aspirational limit set by the Paris Agreement.
Source:
“Territorial (MtCO2)”. GlobalCarbonAtlas.org. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
Data for 2020 is also presented in Popovich, Nadja; Plumer, Brad (12 November 2021). “Who Has The Most Historical Responsibility for Climate Change?” The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021.
Source for country populations: “List of the populations of the world’s countries, dependencies, and territories” britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica.
