Who emits the most carbon emissions each year?

Undoubtedly, there has been confusion and misinformation about who are the big greenhouse gases emitters, a discussion that affects what solutions can and should be implemented to tackle the current climate crisis. 

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), half of the world´s emissions come from electricity production. Transport and manufacturing industries both contributed approximately 20 percent; residential, commercial and public services around 9 percent and other sectors contributing 1 to 2 percent. 

    

Who is the biggest emitter of carbon emissions each year? Only accounting for the emissions related to the country where the carbon dioxide is produced, Asia is clearly the largest emitter in the world, producing 53% of global emissions. Considering it holds over 60% of the planet´s population, it´s only fair that they account for most emissions. China is the world’s largest emitter with more than one-quarter of global emissions. 

North America is the second largest regional emitter at 18% of global emissions, with USA being the world´s biggest emitter for decades, until being dethroned in recent years. Europe produces almost the same amount of carbon with 17%. Africa and South America account for less than 4% of global emissions each.  

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