Meghan Hodges
The top five global polluters in terms of carbon dioxide emissions are China, the United States, India, the EU27, and Russia. China has been the largest emitter of CO2 since 2006, with 9.9 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2020, largely due to its export of consumer goods and heavy reliance on coal. The United States emitted 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2020, while India emitted 2.3 billion tonnes. While India has the third-highest carbon dioxide emissions, it does not rank among the top 10 polluters per capita and is investing in renewable energy projects. Japan, the biggest consumer of fossil fuels globally, is also among the top global polluters, ranking fifth in greenhouse gas emissions due to its high level of urban development and industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Top 5 Polluters | China, India, the United States, the European Union, and Russia |
| China's Emissions | 14 billion tons of CO2 |
| China's Emissions as % of Global Total | Nearly 30% |
| India's Emissions Per Capita | Below Global Average |
| India's Rank in Most Contaminated Cities | 14 out of the top 15 |
| US Emissions Per Capita | Nearly Twice China's |
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What You'll Learn
China, the US, India, EU27, Russia and Brazil are the top emitters
China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia, and Brazil are the world's top emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) and carbon dioxide (CO2). These countries account for 49.8% of the global population, 63.2% of global gross domestic product, 64.2% of global fossil fuel consumption, and 62.7% of global GHG emissions.
China is the largest emitter of GHG and CO2, with nearly 30% of global emissions in 2022 and 11,903 million metric tons of CO2 emitted in 2023. China's extensive use of coal, oil, and motor vehicles contributes significantly to its high emissions. The country plans to reduce its dependence on coal and curb pollution by adopting nuclear, renewable energy sources, and natural gas.
The United States is the second-largest emitter, with the transportation industry being a major contributor. Per capita emissions in the US are nearly double the global average, highlighting the significant role of individual Americans in climate pollution.
India, the third-largest emitter, has experienced a rapid increase in fossil fuel usage, particularly coal, which supplies about 44% of the country's energy. India's dense population and industrial growth have led to high pollution levels, with 14 out of the world's 15 most contaminated cities located in the country.
The EU27, Russia, and Brazil are also among the top emitters globally. In 2023, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain were the largest emitters within the EU27, while Russia's emissions were primarily driven by its extensive natural gas and coal usage. Brazil, an emerging economy, has also contributed to the rise in global GHG emissions.
Collectively, these top-emitting countries hold significant responsibility and power in addressing the climate crisis. Their actions and commitments to reducing emissions will have a substantial impact on the future of our planet.
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China emits the most CO2 due to coal usage
China, the United States, India, Russia, and Japan are the top five global polluters, according to the most recent data from the Global Carbon Atlas. China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, with 11,903 million metric tons emitted in 2023. The primary source of these emissions is fossil fuels, most notably coal. China emitted 27% of the world's greenhouse gases in 2019, according to the Rhodium Group, and its carbon dioxide emissions were 15% higher than those of all other developed economies combined as of 2023.
China's extensive use of coal is the main contributor to its high carbon dioxide emissions. About 58% of the total energy generated in China comes from coal, and coal burning accounts for 79% of the country's CO2 emissions. China is the world's second-largest manufacturer, and much of its industrial production is powered by coal. The country is currently running 1,058 coal plants, more than half of the world's capacity. China is also the largest emitter of methane from coal mines, producing over 14% of global methane emissions.
Rapid urbanization in China has also intensified the country's CO2 emissions. Cement and steel production, which are required for infrastructure, produce significant amounts of CO2. Half of the world's steel is manufactured in China. In addition to its coal usage, China is one of the largest importers of oil, which contributes to CO2 emissions through the use of motor vehicles. Waste treatment is also a significant source of China's greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 7.06% in 2022.
China has recognized the need to reduce its dependence on coal and decrease overall pollution. The country has committed to peak emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060. China plans to generate more electricity using nuclear, renewable energy sources, and natural gas. While there has been some progress, challenges remain, including the technical difficulties of integrating solar energy into the existing power grid and a continued dependence on coal.
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India's fossil fuel burning has increased
India is one of the world's biggest climate polluters, with fossil fuel combustion responsible for about seven percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. In 2022, fossil fuels accounted for 88% of primary energy consumption in India, including 77% of total electricity generation. Coal, oil, and natural gas are the main sources of energy in the country. Despite significant growth in renewable energy sources, India's fossil fuel burning has increased.
India's energy consumption has been growing rapidly, with an average increase of 3.8% per year over the last decade. This is due to the country's rapid economic growth and increasing demand for energy services such as air conditioning, heating, cooking, lighting, power, and transport. As a result, India's fossil fuel burning has increased, even as it installs record renewable power generation capacity.
The Indian government has taken some steps to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and improve household air pollution, such as introducing taxes on fossil fuels and providing subsidies for LPG starter kits and cylinder refills. However, many households still rely on subsidized kerosene for lighting, and the government continues to subsidize bulk purchases of fossil fuels. In 2016, the central government provided USD 19 billion in subsidies for fossil fuels, compared to only USD 1.4 billion for renewables.
While India's per capita emissions are significantly below the global average, the country's large population means that it is a major contributor to global warming. India's energy policy is moving in the right direction, with renewable energy targets being achieved and increased support for renewables and electricity transmission and distribution. However, fossil fuel burning has continued to grow, and coal consumption is expected to continue dominating the country's energy mix in the coming years.
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Japan is the biggest consumer of fossil fuels
Japan is one of the world's largest consumers of fossil fuels, with fossil fuels constituting about 87% of its energy mix. The country's rapid industrial growth since World War II has led to a significant increase in energy consumption, with Japan consuming 6% of global energy supplies by 1976, despite having only 3% of the world's population. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels is largely due to the country's limited domestic energy resources and the loss of nuclear power following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011.
Prior to the Fukushima disaster, nuclear power accounted for about 13% of Japan's total energy use in 2010. However, in the aftermath of the accident, Japan was forced to abandon nuclear energy and increase its dependence on fossil fuels. As a result, by 2019, the share of fossil fuels in Japan's energy mix had risen to over 72%, with natural gas and coal becoming increasingly crucial sources of energy.
Japan's fossil fuel consumption has significant environmental implications. As an island nation with a high electricity demand for its manufacturing industry, Japan remains one of the largest energy consumers worldwide. In 2019, Japan was the fifth-largest oil consumer and the fourth-largest crude oil importer globally. It was also the biggest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the third-largest importer of coal that year.
To address its high fossil fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Japan has set ambitious climate goals. The country aims to cut emissions by 46% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels and become entirely emission-free by 2050. While the share of renewables in electricity production has increased to nearly 22%, there is criticism that Japan may not expand its renewable energy capacity sufficiently to achieve carbon neutrality by its target date.
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Saudi Aramco accounts for 4.38% of GHG emissions
Saudi Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state-owned oil and gas company, is the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter. In 2023, the company reported total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 72.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e), an increase of 1.1% from the previous year. Saudi Aramco's emissions account for 4.38% of global GHG emissions, and if the company were a country, it would be the fourth-largest polluter in the world, after China, the US, and India.
Saudi Aramco's emissions are primarily direct operational emissions, also known as Scope 1 emissions, which accounted for around three-quarters of the company's total emissions in 2023. These direct emissions are a result of the company's oil and gas production, with new oil and gas fields discovered between 2019 and 2020. The company has no plans to reduce oil and gas production by 2030, which is the deadline for significantly reducing emissions from fossil fuels to align with the Paris Agreement's target of limiting global warming to well below 2°C.
Saudi Aramco's business model is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and the company has a long history of fighting efforts to tackle climate change. Despite its claims of focusing on reducing CO2 emissions, Aramco continues to invest in fossil fuel projects and promote carbon capture technologies without addressing the emissions from other parts of its operations, such as extraction, production, and transport. The company's greenwashing efforts include advertising a prototype truck with carbon capture technology without providing comparisons to electric vehicles and paying for press content arguing for investment in fossil fuel cars.
The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, is the single largest source of global GHG emissions, and Saudi Aramco's contribution to these emissions is significant. The company's high emissions and lack of commitment to reducing them have drawn criticism, with Christiana Figueres, a Costa Rican diplomat, stating that state-owned companies are "ignoring the desperate needs of their citizens." As global efforts intensify to address the urgent climate crisis, Saudi Aramco's role in driving GHG emissions becomes increasingly critical, and the company is under pressure to take more substantial action to reduce its environmental impact.
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