Who Pollutes The Most? Global Warming's Culprits

Global warming is an urgent crisis that demands immediate attention and action from countries worldwide. The top polluting countries are primarily responsible for the devastating effects of climate change, with their extensive use of coal, oil, and gas releasing planet-heating gases that remain in the Earth's atmosphere for hundreds of years. While China has been the largest contributor to emissions in recent years, the United States, India, the European Union, Russia, Brazil, and Japan are also among the top emitters, accounting for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. The energy sector, including electricity generation and transportation, remains the largest contributor to emissions. As global initiatives like the Paris Agreement and legislative measures strive to address climate change, it is crucial to recognize the outsized impact of the top polluting countries and the need for collective action to achieve carbon neutrality.

China's extensive use of coal

China's abundant coal reserves have long been viewed as a strategic resource, ensuring energy security and independence from foreign suppliers. This mindset has influenced the country's energy policies and practices. The main demand for coal in China comes from industry, particularly the iron and steel sectors. Chinese scientist Song Yingxing estimated that around 70% of iron was smelted with coal, while 30% used charcoal.

In recent years, China's coal consumption and production have continued to grow. In 2020, coal-fired power stations generated 57% of the country's electricity, and China burns more coal than the rest of the world combined. China's increasing coal capacity in 2022 offset global reductions in coal use. The country approved 5 GW of new coal power in the first half of 2021 and announced 43 new coal power units during that period.

However, there are signs of a transition towards cleaner energy sources. China is the world's dominant manufacturer and user of solar panels and wind turbines, and it is also a leader in hydroelectric power. In 2021, China pledged to end financing for overseas coal power plants, and it is investing in efficient and less polluting coal technologies. The country is also undertaking major grid upgrades worth $800 billion, which are expected to support the integration of more renewable energy sources.

The US's cumulative CO2 emissions

The US is responsible for the largest share of cumulative CO2 emissions, with 20.3% of the global total since 1850. This amounts to more than 509 GtCO2, contributing to around 0.2C of warming. The US's historical emissions are largely attributed to its widespread use of coal and the advent of the motor car.

The US has made efforts to address its emissions, with the Inflation Act reflecting a multifaceted approach to combat climate change. The act includes provisions for clean energy investments, tax credits for renewable projects, and initiatives to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Despite these efforts, US greenhouse gas emissions increased by 5.7% from 2020 to 2022, driven largely by an increase in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion due to economic activity rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, US greenhouse gas emissions totalled 6,343 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents.

The US has also developed long-term plans to decarbonize its economy, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The US's cumulative emissions have a direct impact on global warming, as the total amount of CO2 released by human activity is directly linked to the level of warming at the Earth's surface. The US's historical emissions continue to contribute to the heating of the planet, influencing current and future warming trends.

While the US has taken steps towards reducing its emissions, it remains one of the top emitters, along with China, India, and several other countries. Achieving global carbon neutrality requires collective action, and the US's role in addressing its cumulative emissions is crucial in mitigating climate change. The US's historical emissions highlight the importance of transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the need for sustained efforts to reduce emissions and prevent further warming.

India's high dependence on fossil fuels

India's petroleum product demand reached nearly 3.7 million barrels per day in 2013, far above its roughly 1 million barrels per day of total liquids production. Most of India's demand is for motor gasoline and gasoil, used mainly in the transportation and industrial sectors, and for kerosene and LPG in the residential and commercial sectors. Consumers receive large subsidies for retail purchases of diesel, LPG, and kerosene, driving up overall oil demand.

India's net oil import dependency rose from 43% in 1990 to an estimated 71% in 2012. The country also imports thermal coal for power generation from Indonesia and South Africa, with net coal import dependency rising from practically nothing in 1990 to nearly 23% in 2012. India has limited reserves of coking coal, used for steel production, and imports large quantities from Australia.

India's fossil fuel industry is likely to face competition from renewable energy sources in the future. The country has introduced taxes on fossil fuels, but it also subsidises bulk purchases. Fossil fuel combustion in India was responsible for about 7% of global carbon dioxide emissions. In 2022, fossil fuels accounted for 88% of primary energy consumption in India, including 77% of total electricity generation.

The EU's heavy reliance on fossil fuels

The European Union's (EU) heavy reliance on fossil fuels is a significant contributor to global warming. In 2022, the EU sourced 70.9% of its overall energy supply from fossil fuels, a slight increase from 69.9% in 2021. This percentage has decreased significantly over the decades, dropping by 11.5 percentage points since 1990 due to the increase in renewable energy sources. However, the EU's prosperity and security depend on a stable and affordable energy supply, and the energy crisis has driven up prices on global markets, making the EU more reliant on fossil fuel imports.

The EU's dependence on imported fossil fuels has been a pressing issue, especially with the recent events of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Before the war, Russia was the main supplier of oil and natural gas to the EU, accounting for 43.5% of the EU's natural gas imports in 2021. However, due to sanctions and trade disruptions, imports from Russia decreased significantly in 2022, with Norway becoming the largest supplier of pipeline gas to the EU. This shift in energy suppliers has highlighted the need for the EU to diversify its energy sources and strengthen its international partnerships with key energy suppliers.

To address this issue, the EU has introduced the REPowerEU plan, which aims to drastically reduce Russian gas imports and achieve complete independence from Russian fossil fuels well before the end of the decade. The plan includes diversifying supplies, reducing demand, and increasing the production of green energy within the EU. The EU also implemented the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which places a carbon price on certain imported goods based on their embedded carbon content, encouraging global partners to adopt more sustainable practices.

While the EU has made efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, certain member states have higher shares of fossil fuels in their energy mix. In 2022, Malta (96.1%), Cyprus (89.3%), and the Netherlands (87.6%) were the top three EU countries with the highest share of fossil fuels in gross available energy. In contrast, Sweden (30.4%) and Finland (38.3%) had the lowest shares, indicating a more diversified energy portfolio.

The transition to climate neutrality is a key goal for the EU, with a target date of 2050. To achieve this, the EU is focusing on phasing out fossil fuels and replacing them with synthetic fuels, such as renewable electricity converted into hydrogen, methane, or synthetic petrol. However, the heavy reliance on fossil fuels in the past has contributed significantly to global warming, and the EU's historical role in this context cannot be overlooked.

Brazil's deforestation

Brazil is one of the world's biggest contributors to greenhouse gases and climate change due to its role in deforestation. The country has lost 20% of its rainforest to deforestation, and the Amazon rainforest, which covers 60% of a landscape nearly the size of the United States, is particularly affected.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and store carbon, and the Amazon rainforest holds 48 billion tons of carbon. When trees are cut down, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Deforestation in Brazil has already led to a rise in temperature, and it is estimated that if it continues, the temperature in the country will increase by 1.45 degrees. This will have severe consequences, including increased human mortality rates, reduced agricultural yields and water resources, and a contribution to biodiversity collapse. The economic losses due to deforestation in Brazil are predicted to reach around 317 billion dollars per year, far outweighing the benefits of commodities produced through deforestation.

Brazil's history of deforestation can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when settlers cleared land for cash crops such as rubber and tobacco. However, large-scale deforestation began around 1950 for cattle ranching, logging, and palm oil plantations. Today, the soy industry is a significant contributor to deforestation in Brazil, as clearing land for soybean crops is considered an "effective use" of land under the Constitution of Brazil and facilitates land ownership.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, as the Brazilian government's preoccupation with the health crisis has allowed illegal deforestation activities to go unchecked. Additionally, the current president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has made staff and budgeting cuts related to environmental enforcement, further hindering efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest.

Despite these challenges, organizations like The Nature Conservancy are working hard to reduce and stop deforestation in Brazil. They collaborate with the government, farmers, and corporations to implement the Forest Code, improve agricultural and ranching practices, and protect Brazil's forests. By 2017, the Conservancy aimed to protect 24 million hectares in Brazil against illegal deforestation, reduce carbon emissions, and avoid further deforestation.

Frequently asked questions