Brian Barton
The world's most polluting industries are responsible for emitting vast amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, significantly contributing to climate change and environmental degradation. In 2025, the energy industry, including fossil fuels, was identified as the most polluting sector, powering much of our daily lives, from heating homes to running factories. The manufacturing sector, a component of the industrial sector, is a significant emitter, with 765 million metric tons of carbon dioxide released in 2021. Agriculture and food production, fashion, construction, and transportation are also major contributors to pollution, causing widespread environmental damage and health issues. Addressing these polluting industries is crucial to mitigating the worst impacts of the climate crisis and protecting vulnerable communities from the detrimental effects of air pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total emissions in 2022 | 6,343.2 Million Metric Tons of CO₂ equivalent |
| Fossil fuels emissions in 2022 | 40.5 gigatons of CO2 |
| Fossil fuels emissions increase from 2021 to 2022 | 1% |
| Fossil fuels share in electricity production in 2022 | 60% |
| US greenhouse gas emissions increase from 2021 to 2022 | 0.2% |
| US gross greenhouse gas emissions decrease from 1990 to 2022 | Just over 3% |
| Livestock production processes emissions in 2018 | 4 billion tons of CO2eq |
| Fashion industry emissions | 10% of annual carbon footprint |
| Food waste in the UK | 1.9 million tonnes of food wasted annually |
| Transport's responsibility for global CO₂ emissions | One-fifth |
| Construction's responsibility for air pollution | 23% |
| Manufacturing sector emissions in 2021 | 765 million metric tons of CO2e |
| Manufacturing sector emissions in 2021 as a share of industrial sector emissions | 72% |
| US air toxics emissions decrease from 1990 to 2017 | 74% |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuels
In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry. The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to smog and acid rain. Fossil fuels also produce large quantities of carbon dioxide when burned. In 2023, emissions from fossil fuels were estimated at 36.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. When including other sources, such as deforestation and wildfires, total emissions for that year were 40.9 billion metric tons.
The fossil fuel industry also poses significant environmental and safety risks through its extraction and transportation processes. Thousands of oil spills occur each year in the United States, threatening ecosystems and human health. Oil extraction requires vast stretches of land for infrastructure such as wells, pipelines, and access roads. Similarly, strip mining for coal or oil can destroy entire swaths of terrain, including forests and mountaintops.
The transportation sector, which relies heavily on petroleum-based fuels, is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, oil combustion was responsible for 45% of US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Natural gas, while emitting less carbon dioxide than coal, also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through leaks and methane emissions.
To combat these issues, a transition to renewable energy sources is necessary. While renewable energy accounted for about 20% of US electricity generation in 2020, this share is expected to grow. New regulations and incentives are pushing the nation and the world toward cleaner energy sources.
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Fashion
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. It is responsible for 2-10% of global carbon emissions, with some sources placing this figure as high as 8% and others as low as 2%. This equates to around 33.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide per item of clothing. If the industry continues on its current trajectory, its share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by 2050.
The industry is also a major consumer of water, requiring about 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons for a pair of jeans. It is the second-largest consumer industry of water and is responsible for around 20% of industrial water pollution worldwide, largely due to the dyeing process. The fashion industry uses enough water to fill 2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools each year and 215 trillion litres of water annually.
Textile production has also led to the increased use of synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are derived from oil. These fibres are now the most commonly used in textiles, accounting for 64% of global fibre production in 2020. They are a significant source of microplastic pollution, with 35% of all microplastics in the ocean coming from the laundering of synthetic textiles. The production of these textiles releases large amounts of carbon emissions, with polyester production emitting 282 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2015, triple that of cotton.
The environmental impact of the fashion industry has led to calls for a shift towards sustainable fashion and slow fashion, with organisations advocating for business models that reuse clothes and maximise their useful life. The European Commission has also presented a strategy to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable, and the UN has launched the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion to coordinate efforts to make the industry less harmful.
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Food waste
When food is wasted, so are the resources used to produce it, including land, water, energy, fuel, and natural resources. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world's water usage, and food waste ends up wasting a quarter of our water supply in the form of uneaten food. This equates to USD$172 billion in wasted water. Additionally, the production, transportation, and processing of food that ultimately goes to waste cost over $218 billion in the United States alone.
To address food waste, changes must be implemented at every stage of the process, from farmers and food processors to retailers and consumers. Prioritizing balancing production with demand and improving food harvesting, storing, processing, and distributing processes can help reduce waste. Additionally, educating consumers about food waste and encouraging proper food storage can prevent millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
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Transport
The transportation sector is a major contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions, with road vehicles being the primary source of these emissions. In 2023, the global transportation sector produced approximately 8.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, accounting for about 16% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This figure has increased by almost 80% since 1990, and transportation emissions now make up over 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Passenger cars, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and light-duty trucks, including SUVs, pickup trucks, and minivans, are the largest sources of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Together, these sources account for over half of the emissions from the transportation sector. Cars and vans alone accounted for approximately 48% of global transportation emissions, with emissions from cars reaching 3.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide in 2019. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary reduction in emissions due to restrictions on mobility, emissions have since increased, albeit remaining below pre-pandemic levels.
The United States is the largest producer of transportation emissions worldwide. In 2022, the U.S. transportation sector emitted more than 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide, a 56% increase compared to 1975. Transportation accounted for 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, making it the largest contributor. China has also seen a significant increase in transportation emissions, with emissions from this sector more than tripling since 2000.
Aviation, including commercial aircraft, contributes a smaller but still significant share of transportation emissions, at around 11.6% or just under one billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. International shipping accounts for a similar amount, at 10.6%. Rail travel and freight emit a comparatively small amount, at only 1% of transport emissions. However, it is important to note that emissions from other transport sectors, such as pipelines for the movement of materials like water, oil, and gas, can be as high as 2.2%.
There are various opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. These include the use of low-carbon fuels, improved vehicle technologies, strategies to reduce vehicle miles traveled, and more efficient operation of vehicles. Programs like SmartWay help improve supply chain efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases in the freight transportation sector. Additionally, fuel economy standards and regulations for vehicles can contribute to significant emissions reductions, as well as provide consumer savings and reduce dependence on oil.
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Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, both by burning fossil fuels and through certain industrial processes. In 2021, 92% of CO2 emissions from the manufacturing sector occurred when fossil fuels were burned to produce energy, while the remaining 8% were released as a by-product of industrial activity or product use. The industrial processes that release greenhouse gases vary widely by industry. For example, 6% of industrial process emissions in 2021 were nitrous oxide, mostly related to fertilizer production.
The fashion industry, particularly fast fashion, is a significant contributor to carbon emissions within the manufacturing sector, generating 8-10% of global carbon emissions. This is due to the use of cheap fabrics like polyester, made from fossil fuels, which release microplastics when washed, as well as the dyeing and finishing processes, which pollute a large proportion of the world's clean water. In addition, the fashion industry generates massive amounts of textile waste, with 92 million tonnes generated annually, 85% of which ends up in landfills.
While manufacturing employment has declined in some regions, particularly in the North of the US, manufacturing pollution has consistently decreased in both the North and South regions. This has allowed northern urban centres to reinvent themselves and promote more environmentally friendly images, attracting people to move to these regions.
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Frequently asked questions
The fossil fuel industry is the most polluting in the world. In 2022, emissions from fossil fuels increased by 1% to 40.5 gigatons of CO2.
The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, which equates to about 92 million tons of textile waste generated each year.
The agricultural industry is responsible for 8.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with another 14.5% coming from land-use changes. Livestock production processes alone generated 4 billion tons of CO2eq in 2018.
The manufacturing industry released 765 million metric tons of CO2e in 2021.
Electricity and heat production are the largest contributors to global emissions. In 2022, 60% of electricity was produced by burning fossil fuels, which emitted 6,343.2 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent.
