Air Polluters: The World's Top Offenders

The world's top air polluters are responsible for a large portion of global pollution. While almost all countries contribute to this issue, the top five polluters are China, the United States, India, the EU, and Russia. These countries have high emissions due to their extensive use of fossil fuels, large populations, and significant industrial and commercial activities. Notably, China and the US are the largest greenhouse gas emitters and are also the world's biggest economies. To combat climate change, global initiatives like CBAM in Europe and the Inflation Act in the US have been implemented, along with advancements in sustainable fuels and transportation solutions.

China: the top carbon polluter

China currently leads the world in emissions, primarily driven by its extensive use of coal. In 2020, China emitted more than 11.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide, accounting for more than 10.6 billion metric tons. This staggering figure represents 30.6% of the globe's carbon dioxide emissions and is more than twice as much carbon pollution as the United States, the next highest emitter at 13.5%. China's emissions are largely attributed to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly coal, for energy generation.

The United States is also a significant contributor to global carbon pollution, with the majority of its emissions stemming from a handful of large polluting facilities, predominantly electric power plants that burn coal and/or gas. In 2022, the 50 highest-emitting U.S. facilities released 471.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, accounting for nearly 7% of the country's total emissions that year.

While China and the United States are the top two emitters, it is important to recognize that other regions, such as the Middle East and Europe, also play a significant role in global carbon pollution. Additionally, the fashion industry, as the third most polluting industry, contributes about 10% of the annual carbon footprint, surpassing emissions from international flights and maritime shipping combined.

To effectively combat climate change, the biggest polluters, including China, must take decisive action to reduce their carbon emissions and offset their carbon footprint through supporting global environmental initiatives. Legislative measures and international agreements, such as those reached at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, are crucial steps towards establishing standardized global emissions control and accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Fossil fuels: the most polluting sector

Fossil fuels are the most polluting sector in the world. Despite this knowledge, emissions from fossil fuels continue to increase. In 2023, fossil fuel emissions rose by 1.1%, reaching 36.8 billion tonnes. The burning of fossil fuels for energy is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for global warming and the destabilization of our climate.

The largest sources of these gases are the use of fossil fuels, the generation of energy through non-renewable channels, and polluting human activities. Countries like the USA, China, and the EU are significant contributors to pollution due to their heavy reliance on fossil fuels. China, for example, has the highest emissions, driven by its extensive use of coal.

The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions, with over 94% of the fuel used for transportation being petroleum-based. The commercial and residential sectors also contribute significantly to emissions, as fossil fuels are burned for heat and the use of gases for refrigeration and cooling in buildings. Additionally, the agriculture sector emits greenhouse gases from livestock, agricultural soils, and rice production.

The fashion industry, the third most polluting industry, is responsible for about 10% of our annual carbon footprint, creating waste that pollutes the air and oceans. The food retail sector also contributes to emissions, with most of its emissions coming from food and plastic waste.

To tackle the climate crisis, it is crucial to identify and prioritize the decarbonization of the most polluting sectors, such as fossil fuels, to make the biggest dent in emissions in the shortest time frame.

US polluters: 50 facilities responsible for 7% of emissions

The burning of fossil fuels is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States. In 2022, the US emitted 6,343.2 million metric tons of CO2. While the US is a significant contributor to pollution, it is China that leads in emissions, driven by its extensive use of coal.

In the US, a large share of electricity is used by buildings (for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, appliances, etc.) and for powering industrial machinery. The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions, with over 94% of the fuel used for transportation being petroleum-based.

However, it is not just the US government that needs to take action to reduce carbon emissions. A report by The Guardian found that just 25 companies are responsible for more than 50% of global industrial emissions since 1988. ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron are among the highest-emitting investor-owned companies. If fossil fuels continue to be extracted at the same rate over the next 28 years as they were between 1988 and 2017, global average temperatures would be set to rise by 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, leading to catastrophic consequences.

In the US, 50 industrial facilities were responsible for nearly 7% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. These facilities, mostly coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, emitted 472 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. The largest emitter was the James H. Miller Jr. power plant in Quinton, Alabama, which released over 21 million tons of greenhouse gases—more than six US states emitted individually the year prior. In addition to power plants, refineries and steel mills were among the nation's top 50 climate polluters. The sixth-highest emitter was the ExxonMobil refinery and chemical plant in Baytown, Texas, which produced 12.6 million tons of greenhouse gases, equivalent to the annual emissions of 3 million passenger cars.

There is hope that the pollution emitted by these 50 facilities will decrease in the coming years, as some have been investing in equipment for greenhouse gas reduction, and six of the power plants are set to close by 2033. Furthermore, recent US Environmental Protection Agency regulations should help reduce emissions. In April, the EPA finalized a rule requiring existing coal-fired power plants and new natural gas-fired power plants to control 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2039.

Fashion: the third most polluting industry

The fashion industry is the third most polluting industry in the world, responsible for about 5% of global emissions. It produces about 10% of our annual carbon footprint, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. The manufacturing and use of apparel and footwear are significant drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and textile waste. The fashion industry emitted 2% of the world's total greenhouse gases in the late 2010s, contributing to climate change through energy-intensive production.

Cotton, one of the fashion industry's most frequently used materials, is among the most pesticide-intensive crops globally. It takes half a pound of cotton to make an average t-shirt, and more than 1,800 gallons of water to produce a single pair of jeans. The global fashion industry consumed 79 billion cubic meters of water in 2015, more than electricity production and a threat to water shortages in cotton-growing countries. Uzbekistan, the world's sixth-largest producer of cotton, is an example of how cotton can negatively impact a region's environment. In the 1950s, two rivers in Central Asia were rerouted from the Aral Sea to provide irrigation for cotton production in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

The fashion industry is also a significant contributor to water pollution. The textile industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world, responsible for about one-fifth of all industrial water pollution. The use of synthetic fibers, agriculture pollution of fashion crops, and the proliferation of microfibres across global water sources are key factors. Microfibres have been found in the digestive tracts of widely consumed fish and shellfish, which are then consumed by humans, leading to the absorption of micro-pollutants.

The fashion industry also generates significant waste. Around 80 billion items of clothing are consumed annually, with about 85% of clothes in the United States sent to landfill. Only 11.3 million tons of the 17 million tons of textile waste produced in 2018 were discarded in landfills, with 3.2 million tons incinerated and 2.5 million tons recycled. When textile clothing ends up in landfills, chemicals such as dyes can leech into the ground and cause environmental damage. The fashion industry also consumes enough water to meet the needs of five million people annually and creates millions of tons of plastic and other waste that pollute our air and oceans.

Middle East: high per capita emissions

The Middle East is a region with high per-capita emissions, and some Arab states are experiencing a rapid rise in CO2 emissions. Qatar, for instance, is the highest emitter in the region, with 32.42 metric tons per capita. The region's emissions are largely driven by carbon-intensive modes of transportation, energy-intensive industries, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels for power generation. Fossil fuel heating is the predominant source of residential emissions in most countries in the Middle East.

The use of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, for power generation, transportation, and industry, contributes significantly to the region's carbon footprint. While there has been a global decline in emissions, with countries like Iraq and Syria experiencing decreases of 0.9% and 0.8%, respectively, due to slowed economic growth caused by war, most Gulf countries continue to increase their emissions.

The Middle East's high per-capita emissions can be attributed to its economic structure and energy system. Power plants, vehicles, and machines contribute to the region's emissions, with cars being the primary source of transport emissions. Additionally, the presence of energy-intensive industries, such as steel or chemicals, further exacerbates the region's carbon footprint.

To address the issue of high per-capita emissions in the Middle East, legislative measures and global initiatives are crucial. For example, the CBAM in Europe and the Inflation Act in the US are positive steps towards standardizing global emissions control. International cooperation, as seen at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, is essential for making agreements and progressing towards effective emissions reduction.

It is worth noting that the calculation of per-capita emissions in the Middle East may have limitations due to the difficulty of attributing fuels supplied to international transport. Nevertheless, the region's high per-capita emissions and the varying trends among Arab states highlight the urgency of addressing carbon emissions and supporting environmental projects to combat the climate crisis.

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