Greta Jimenez
The countries that emit the most carbon dioxide (CO2) are often the most industrialised, with the largest populations. China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia and Brazil were the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters in 2023. China has been the largest CO2 emitter since 2006, largely due to its export of consumer goods and heavy reliance on coal. However, when measured per capita, China's emissions are less than two-thirds of those of the United States and less than a sixth of those of Palau, the country with the highest per capita emissions. The three most polluting countries per capita are located on the Arabian Peninsula, due to their large oil industries and small populations. While India is the third most polluting country in terms of total emissions, it does not appear in the top 10 when measured per capita.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Top 3 countries with the highest carbon dioxide emissions | China, the United States, and India |
| Country with the highest CO2 emissions in the world | China |
| Country with the highest CO2 emissions in Europe | Germany |
| Top 3 most polluting countries per capita | Located in the Arabian Peninsula |
| Country with the highest emissions of CO2 per capita | Palau |
| Country with the highest carbon footprint per capita | India |
| Country with the highest number of contaminated cities | India |
| Country with laws protecting air quality | India |
| Country with initiatives to address climate change | USA |
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What You'll Learn
China, the US and India: the three most polluting countries
China, the United States, and India are the top three countries with the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These three countries are also the most industrialised in the world. However, when it comes to per capita emissions, the ranking changes.
China has been the largest emitter of CO2 for over a decade. In 2022, China emitted 9.9 billion tonnes of CO2, largely due to the export of consumer goods and its heavy reliance on coal. China's emissions more than tripled over the three decades to 2021, according to the US-based Rhodium Group. China's per capita emissions in 2023 were 9.24, almost two-thirds those of the United States. China has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, with a peak no later than 2030.
The United States is the second-largest emitter of CO2, with 4.4 billion tonnes emitted in 2022. On a per capita basis, the US emitted 13.83 tonnes of CO2 in 2023, far higher than China's per capita emissions. Scientists have warned that without an agreement between the US and China to reduce emissions, it will be hard to avert dangerous climate change.
India is the third-largest emitter of CO2, with 2.3 billion tonnes emitted in 2022. However, due to its large population, India's per capita emissions are lower than the other top emitters. India is making efforts to reduce its emissions by investing in renewable energy projects, such as wind farms.
Together, these three countries contribute 42.6% of total global GHG emissions, while the bottom 100 countries only account for 2.9%.
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The three most polluting countries per capita
When it comes to the most polluting countries per capita, the top three spots are occupied by countries in the Arabian Peninsula. This is due to their large share of the oil industry in their economies and their small populations. While India is the third most polluting country in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, it does not feature in the top 10 most polluting countries per capita.
Russia and the United States are also high per capita polluters. According to the UNEP's Emissions Gap Report 2024, Russia produced 19 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per person in 2023, closely followed by the US with 18 tCO2e. China, the world's largest emitter of CO2, produced 11 tCO2e per capita, which is less than half of the US figure.
In 2023, China's CO2 per capita emissions were almost two-thirds those of the United States and less than a sixth of those of Palau, which had the highest emissions of CO2 per capita. China's high CO2 emissions can be attributed to its export of consumer goods and heavy reliance on coal. The United States and India, the second and third highest emitters of CO2 respectively, are also major contributors to global emissions.
While these countries have high emissions, it is important to note that the calculation of a country's carbon footprint can vary depending on the method used, such as CO2 emissions, per capita, or ecological footprint.
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The most polluting countries in Europe
The most polluting countries in the world are China, the United States, and India, owing to their high levels of industrialization and dense populations. However, when it comes to Europe specifically, there are several countries that stand out as the most polluting.
In 2021, Germany, France, and Italy were the European countries with the highest overall GHG emissions, ranging from approximately 375,000 to 740,000 ktonnes of CO2 eq. Germany's high emissions are attributed to its heavy dependence on coal, and the country contributes to over one-quarter of the entire European Union's total CO2 emissions.
When looking at emissions per capita, the highest in the EU in 2021 were from Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, exceeding 10 tonnes of CO2 eq per capita. These countries heavily contributed to the climate crisis, as their emissions were significantly higher than the Paris Agreement's targets.
Eastern European and Balkan countries, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Albania, and Ukraine, suffer the highest rates of air contamination and air pollution-related deaths in Europe. Additionally, countries like the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, and Hungary have high average annual levels of city air pollution.
While some European countries have made progress in reducing emissions, overall, the continent continues to face challenges in combating air pollution, with a large portion of the population still exposed to hazardous levels of fine particulate air pollutants.
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Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia: the Arabian Peninsula
The Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) is among the most polluted regions in the world, with air pollution levels in many cities increasing as economic activity returns to pre-pandemic levels. The region's pollution is largely due to road vehicles, municipal waste burning, and industrial activities.
According to IQAir data, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are among the top 15 most affected countries. By World Health Organization (WHO) standards, no MENA country met the safe guidelines for PM2.5 in 2021. PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter (solid and liquid particles) that are less than 2.5 microns in diameter. These particles can enter the lungs and bloodstream and have been linked to increased morbidity and mortality due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In 2012, Saudi Arabia had the highest annual median PM2.5 concentration of 108 μg/m3 among the nine most populated countries in the Middle East. The relative risk of mortality due to air pollution was also highest in Saudi Arabia at 1.8031. Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were among the MENA countries where residents were inhaling the equivalent of 2–2.5 cigarettes' worth of PM2.5 daily.
The high pollution levels in Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia can be attributed to their large oil industry and small populations. These countries, along with Bahrain and Oman, are part of the Arabian Peninsula, which has experienced air pollution from dust storms and industrial activities.
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India's initiatives to reduce emissions
India is one of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, with 2.3 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted in 2022. Despite this, it does not rank among the 10 most polluting countries per capita. India has been making efforts to reduce its emissions and invest in renewable energy sources. Here are some of India's initiatives to reduce emissions:
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
India has made significant progress in meeting its NDC commitments since its first announcement in 2016. Some of its targets include:
- A 45% reduction in emissions intensity from 2005 levels.
- Increasing renewable generation capacity to 175 gigawatts (GW) by 2022, with a focus on solar power, growing to 100 GW.
- Using 5% biodiesel in railways.
- Saving 10% of energy consumption by 2018-2019.
- Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
National Electricity Plan 2023 (NEP2023)
India has ambitious renewable energy plans outlined in the NEP2023, aiming for a share of installed capacity of 57% and 66% in 2026-27 and 2031-32, respectively.
Transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs)
At COP26, India committed to transitioning to 100% electric vehicles, with a particular focus on two and three-wheelers. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme is crucial to this transition, providing increased funding for electric public buses and charging infrastructure.
Domestic Carbon Market
India has proposed draft rules for a compliance carbon market, including an emissions intensity target similar to the previous cap-and-trade system known as Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT).
While India has made considerable efforts to reduce its emissions, some targets have been rated as "Insufficient" or "Highly Insufficient" when compared to the level of reductions needed to limit warming to 1.5°C. India will need to adopt stronger targets and accelerate climate policy implementation to drive real-world emission reductions.
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Frequently asked questions
The countries with the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are China, the United States, and India.
China's emissions are largely due to the export of consumer goods and its heavy reliance on coal.
In terms of total emissions, the US emits about half as much CO2 as China. However, when considering emissions per capita, the US emits about 50% more CO2 per person than China.
The three most polluting countries per capita are located in the Arabian Peninsula. This is due to the large share of the oil industry in their economies and their small populations.
Germany is the European country with the highest CO2 emissions, contributing over 25% of the entire European Union's total.
