The five countries that produce the world's highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are China, the U.S., India, Russia, and Japan, according to the most recent data from theGlobal Carbon Atlas. China is by far the worst offender.
According to NASA's Climate Science division, the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere has increased by 50% in the roughly 200 years since the Industrial Revolution began. And that, according to NASA, has warmed the planet and caused climate change.
About 90% of carbon dioxide emissions are caused by the use of fossil fuels.
Key Takeaways
- China tops the list of carbon dioxide-emitting nations, primarily due to its reliance on coal as well as imported oil.
- The U.S. is second on the list due to the dominance of its gasoline-fueled transportation industry.
- China's carbon dioxide emissions were 15% higher than those of all other developed economies combined, as of 2023.
1. China
China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide gas in the world, with 11,397 million metric tons emitted in 2022. The primary source of CO2 emissions in China is fossil fuels, most notably those that burn coal.
About 58% of the total energy generated by China comes from coal alone, and because coal is rich in carbon, burning it in China's power and industrial plants and boilers releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
China is also one of the largest importers of oil, which contributes to CO2 emissions through the country's use of motor vehicles.
China plans to reduce its dependence on coal and decrease overall pollution in large cities in the future by generating more electricity using nuclear, renewable energy sources, and natural gas.
The $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law byPresident Joe Biden in 2021. The bill includes funding to improve energy infrastructure, install a network of electric vehicle charging stations, update power lines, and produce clean energy. All have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions.
2. The United States
The U.S. is the second-largest emitter of CO2, with 5,057 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. The largest sources of CO2 emissions in the U.S. came from transportation, electric power, and industry.
The U.S. government has undertaken significant efforts to reduce reliance on coal for electricity generation, but the country remains a major producer of crude oil.
The U.S. economy is heavily reliant on the transportation sector, which burns petroleum for trucks, ships, trains, and planes. U.S. consumers depend on their cars as their primary means of transportation, and this also contributes to the CO2 footprint through gasoline and diesel.
Another major contributor to CO2 emissions in the U.S. is industry, which burns fossil fuels for energy. Also, the U.S. chemical sector uses various chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials. The process emits CO2.
3. India
India is the third-largest CO2 emitter, with 2,830 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide emissions produced in 2022. Coal is the main energy source for India, supplying about 44% of the energy in the country. Petroleum and other liquids provided about 24%.
Natural gas accounts for only 6% of India's energy consumption. However, the country plans to increase the natural gas market share to 15% by 2030 to reduce air pollution and use cleaner-burning fuels.
4. Russia
Russia is the fourth-largest contributor to CO2 emissions in the world, emitting 1,652 million metric tons in 2022. Russia has one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, and natural gas is the primary source of energy and power generation in the country.
Coal, which is widely used in chemical and other basic material industries and for power generation in Russia, is also a major contributor to Russia's CO2 emissions.
Russia has been a large supplier of natural gas to other countries, primarily in Europe. However, European countries have been cutting back on Russian natural gas due to the country's invasion of Ukraine, and Russia is also cutting back on its supply of gas to Europe.
5. Japan
Japan is the fifth-largest producer of CO2 emissions, with 1,054 million metric tons in 2021. Japan's energy fuel mix changed after the 2011 nuclear accident at f*ckushima. Oil is the largest source of energy in Japan, with its total share of energy consumption being 38% in 2021, which is the latest figure available.
Coal still makes up a large share of energy consumption in Japan: 25%. Nuclear gas accounts for 23% of energy consumption as of 2021.
The country's energy plan from 2018 has the goal of increasing nuclear-fired power production by 2030 to reduce the dependency on hydrocarbon fuel imports.
Which Countries Have Produced the Most Carbon Dioxide Emissions?
The countries that have historically produced the most carbon dioxide emissions since 1750 have been the United States, China, Russia, Germany, the U.S., and Japan.
As of 2022, the five countries with the highest emissions are China, the U.S., India, Russia, and Japan.
What Is the Main Source of Carbon Dioxide Emissions?
Burning coal is the most significant contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Across all fossil fuels, coal is the most carbon-intensive.
Given how inexpensive and ubiquitous a source of energy coal is, it has powered electricity grids for decades worldwide.
Why Are China's Carbon Dioxide Emissions So High?
As the world's second-largest manufacturer, much of China's industrial production is powered by coal. Rapid urbanization has also intensified the country's CO2 emissions.
Cement and steel production, which are both required for infrastructure, produce significant amounts of C02. Half of the world's steel is manufactured in China.
The Bottom Line
Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas produced by human activities including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activity.
The countries that are responsible for emitting the most CO2 in the world include the most advanced, such as the U.S. and Japan, and some of the fastest-growing economies—notably, China, India, and Russia.
While rising CO2 levels are a cause for concern, this gas does serve a purpose. It helps keep the Earth's temperature above freezing and helps lower pH levels in the world's oceans.
Correction―Oct. 10, 2022: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the timeframe under consideration and referred to metric tons rather than millions of metric tons (megatonnes).
