Helena Joyce
The United States has historically been responsible for more carbon emissions than any other country. In 2017, the New York Times called the US the 'biggest carbon polluter in history' and David G. Victor, a scholar of climate politics, stated that in cumulative terms, [the US] own [s] this problem more than anybody else. However, China surpassed the US in carbon emissions a decade prior to 2017, and its emissions are about double the American figure. In 2022, the US was ranked second in the world for carbon dioxide emissions, with 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2017 |
| Country with the highest carbon emissions | United States |
| US CO2 emissions in 2022 | 4.4 billion tonnes |
| US per capita emissions in 2023 | 13.83 |
| US position in the top 3 GHG emitters | Second |
| US per capita emissions | Peaked |
| US climate policies | Ambitious |
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What You'll Learn
The US is the biggest carbon polluter in history
The United States, a country with the largest and most dynamic economy, has been called the biggest carbon polluter in history. The US has contributed more than any other country to the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is heating the planet. While the US is no longer the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases, it has been burning coal, oil and gas for far longer than any other country.
David G. Victor, a scholar of climate politics at the University of California, San Diego, said: "In cumulative terms, we [the US] certainly own this problem more than anybody else does". The US, with just over 4% of the world's population, is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
In 2022, the top 20 global climate polluters, dominated by China, India, the US and the European Union, were responsible for 83% of emissions. While China is the biggest emitter overall, the average American is responsible for nearly twice as much climate pollution as the average person in China.
In 2024, China, the US and India were ranked as the three countries with the highest CO2 emissions. The US emitted 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2, compared to China's 9.9 billion tonnes and India's 2.3 billion tonnes.
The US has also been criticised for its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017, which was a setback for efforts to address climate change. However, in 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in the country's history.
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The US has the highest per-capita emissions
The United States has been called the highest polluting country due to its historical responsibility for more carbon dioxide emissions than any other country. While China surpassed the US as the largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases a decade ago, the US is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, with China responsible for less than a sixth.
The US's large role in causing climate change has created an outsized responsibility to help fight it, including an obligation to send billions of dollars abroad to aid the hardest-hit countries. The Obama administration pledged $3 billion to an international fund for this purpose, but only $1 billion had been transferred by the time President Trump took office.
The US's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Deal in 2017 was a major setback for efforts to address climate change. The agreement aimed to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an ideal target of 1.5°C. To meet these goals, humans can only emit a limited amount more of carbon dioxide, whether through fossil fuel burning, cement production, or land use change.
To reduce emissions, the US can use less energy and transition to lower-carbon energy sources, such as renewables or nuclear energy. This will lower the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy.
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The US withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement
The United States has contributed more than any other country to the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is warming the planet. In 2023, the US was among the world's largest GHG emitters. While the US is historically responsible for more emissions than any other country, it is no longer the world's largest single emitter of greenhouse gases; China surpassed the US a decade ago.
On June 1, 2017, during his first term in office, President Trump announced the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement—a global accord that implements the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Paris Agreement is an international climate change agreement adopted in December 2015 by nations that are parties to the UNFCCC. Under the agreement, the US had committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.
Trump's announcement was part of his broader initiative to "Make America affordable and energy dominant again," which included reviewing regulations that impose burdens on energy production and use. The decision to withdraw from the accord was a major setback for efforts to address climate change, and it may have prompted other countries to reconsider their pledges.
Trump's initial attempt to withdraw in 2017 was unsuccessful due to the agreement's withdrawal mechanism, which required a four-year wait at that time. However, during his second term in office, Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, titled "Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements", initiating the process of withdrawing the US from any commitments made under the UNFCCC. This executive order addressed the US's financial commitments under the UNFCCC, stating that the country would cease or revoke any financial obligations.
The US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement had significant implications for global climate change efforts, and it remains a critical issue with ongoing consequences.
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The US is responsible for nearly one-third of excess CO2
The United States has historically been the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide. In 2017, the US was dubbed the “biggest carbon polluter in history” by the New York Times. This was in response to the country's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Deal, a 195-nation agreement on climate change.
The US has emitted more CO2 than any other country to date. Since 1751, the US has emitted around 400 billion tonnes of CO2, which is almost a quarter of all historical CO2 emissions. This is twice the amount emitted by China, the second-largest contributor. When measured in terms of CO2 per capita, the US's emissions in 2023 were 13.83, almost two-thirds of China's emissions per capita (9.24).
The US's historical role in causing climate change has created an outsized responsibility to help fight it. Some argue that the US should take ambitious action to slow global warming, including sending billions of dollars abroad to help people in poorer countries. While the US is no longer the world's largest single emitter of greenhouse gases, any reduction in emissions helps minimize future temperature increases.
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The US has been burning fossil fuels longer than China
The United States has been called the highest polluting country in the world. In 2017, the US withdrew from the Paris Climate Deal, an agreement on climate change reached in Paris in 2015. This move was seen as a setback in the fight against climate change. Despite this, the US has made some efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and increase clean power generation. However, it has been criticized for not doing enough to address its role in causing climate change.
The US has historically contributed more emissions than any other country due to its longer history of burning fossil fuels. While China has surpassed the US as the largest single emitter of greenhouse gases, the US still plays a significant role in global emissions. The US has been burning coal, oil, and natural gas for a much longer period, and with just over 4% of the world's population, it is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In contrast, China, with a population four times that of the US, contributes less than a sixth of excess carbon dioxide.
The US has taken some steps towards clean energy, with electricity output from clean energy sources rising by around 16% since 2019. However, the total power demand has also been steadily rising, limiting the ability of power firms to reduce fossil fuel generation. The US power system has become more fossil-dependent than China's, with utilities in the US generating a larger share of electricity from fossil fuels, mainly coal, oil, and natural gas. This undermines the US's claims to be a leader in energy transition efforts.
China, on the other hand, has been making significant strides towards clean energy development. Between 2018 and 2023, China boosted its clean generation capacity by over 100%, and its clean energy capacity now exceeds its total fossil capacity. China's utilities have also been lifting both fossil fuel and clean energy generation to meet demand growth, with clean-powered electricity generation rising faster than fossil generation. As a result, China's power firms have been able to boost overall power supplies while reducing coal's share in the generation mix.
In summary, while China may currently have higher emissions than the US, the US has been burning fossil fuels for a much longer period. The US's historical emissions have significantly contributed to the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and it continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels for electricity generation. China, despite its high emissions, is making more aggressive progress towards clean energy development and reducing its fossil fuel reliance. The US needs to develop a more aggressive clean capacity pipeline to establish itself as a true leader in climate action and decarbonization.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States was called the highest polluting country in 2017.
China, the United States, India, the EU, Russia, and Brazil were the world's largest GHG emitters in 2022.
The United States has the highest per capita emissions, with the average American responsible for nearly twice as much climate pollution as the average person in China.
The United States emitted 4.4 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2022.
The United States withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017 under the Trump administration. However, in 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in the country's history.
