Key Takeaways

• China accounts for 26% of all global emissions, while the U.S. is responsible for another 11.5%.
• This was equivalent to 12.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide for China and 5.6 billion tCO2e for the U.S. in 2022.
• Most of the top 10 emitters are also the world’s most populous countries, barring Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.

Developing Countries Are Driving Emissions Growth

There’s a pattern as to why middle-income countries are seeing emissions growth.

1. They are prioritizing economic development and have larger populations, driving an overall increase in energy consumption.
2. Most emissions-heavy industries have moved from high-income countries to middle- and low-income ones.
3. Thus, high-income countries are able to sustain their consumption levels while the emissions from producing the goods they consume are accounted for elsewhere.