As the world shattered yet another grim record with global CO2 emissions soaring to 37.4 billion tonnes in 2023, let's dive into the unsettling statistics that reveal exactly who and what is driving this dangerous planetary overload.
Key Takeaways
- Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement production reached 37.4 GtCO2 in 2023, marking a new record high driven by increased coal use in Asia
- Total anthropogenic CO2 emissions worldwide amounted to 36.8 GtCO2 in 2022, with fossil fuel combustion accounting for 86% of the total
- In 2021, global CO2 emissions rebounded to 36.3 GtCO2 post-COVID, 4.8% higher than 2020 levels but still 3.7% below 2019 peaks
- In 2022, China's CO2 emissions totaled 11.9 GtCO2, 32% of global total
- United States emitted 5.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 13.5% of world total, down 0.8% from 2021
- India's CO2 emissions reached 2.9 GtCO2 in 2023, 8% of global, up 4.7% year-on-year
- Power sector in China emitted 6.7 GtCO2 in 2023, 46% of national total
- Global transport sector CO2 emissions totaled 8.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 21% of total, dominated by road vehicles
- Industry sector worldwide emitted 12.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 33% global share, iron/steel leading
- Global CO2 emissions grew from 15 Gt in 1950 to 37 Gt in 2023, tripling in 70 years
- Pre-industrial CO2 concentration 280 ppm, rose to 419 ppm by 2023, +50%
- US CO2 peaked at 6.0 Gt in 2007, fell 20% to 4.8 Gt by 2022
- Global CO2 projected to peak before 2030 at 37-40 Gt under current policies
- Net zero by 2050 requires 7.6 Gt/yr CO2 cuts by 2030, 6%/yr decline
- China emissions to plateau 2025 at 12 Gt, decline post-2030
Global CO2 emissions continue to set alarming new records, primarily driven by coal use.
Emissions by Country
- In 2022, China's CO2 emissions totaled 11.9 GtCO2, 32% of global total
- United States emitted 5.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 13.5% of world total, down 0.8% from 2021
- India's CO2 emissions reached 2.9 GtCO2 in 2023, 8% of global, up 4.7% year-on-year
- EU-27 collective emissions were 2.8 GtCO2 in 2022, down 2.5% from prior year
- Russia's CO2 output stood at 1.7 GtCO2 in 2022, 4.6% global share, stable despite war
- Japan's emissions fell to 1.06 GtCO2 in 2022, 2.9% of world, down 2.3%
- Germany's CO2 emissions dropped to 0.67 GtCO2 in 2022, lowest since 1950s, 1.8% global
- South Korea emitted 0.65 GtCO2 in 2022, 1.8% global share, up slightly
- Canada's emissions were 0.56 GtCO2 in 2022, down 7% from 2005 levels
- Australia's CO2 emissions totaled 0.41 GtCO2 in 2022, 1.1% global, stable
- Brazil's emissions were 1.1 GtCO2 in 2022, largely from land use, 3% global
- Indonesia emitted 0.69 GtCO2 in 2022, 1.9% global, driven by coal and peat fires
- Saudi Arabia's CO2 output reached 0.63 GtCO2 in 2022, 1.7% world share
- Iran's emissions climbed to 0.78 GtCO2 in 2022, 2.1% global
- South Africa's CO2 was 0.46 GtCO2 in 2022, coal-heavy, 1.2% global
- Mexico emitted 0.48 GtCO2 in 2022, 1.3% share
- United Kingdom's emissions fell to 0.37 GtCO2 in 2022, 1% global, down 5%
- Turkey emitted 0.44 GtCO2 in 2022, 1.2% world total, up 5%
Emissions by Country Interpretation
If the global carbon ledger were a grim comedy club, China is the headliner delivering a third of the punchlines, the US is a veteran comic trying (and slightly failing) to cut his material, India is the rising star rapidly expanding its set, and Europe is desperately workshopping its act in the green room, all while the world's climate heckles from the back row.
Emissions by Sector
- Power sector in China emitted 6.7 GtCO2 in 2023, 46% of national total
- Global transport sector CO2 emissions totaled 8.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 21% of total, dominated by road vehicles
- Industry sector worldwide emitted 12.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 33% global share, iron/steel leading
- Buildings sector global CO2 was 3.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 8% total, mostly heating/cooling
- Agriculture direct CO2 emissions low at 0.5 GtCO2 globally in 2022, but indirect high
- US electricity generation emitted 1.5 GtCO2 in 2022, 30% of national total
- Global aviation fuel burned emitted 0.92 GtCO2 in 2022, recovering to 90% pre-COVID
- Cement industry global emissions 2.3 GtCO2 in 2022, process emissions 60%
- Steel sector emitted 1.9 GtCO2 from fossil fuels in 2022, plus 2 Gt process
- Chemicals/petrochemicals 3.7 GtCO2eq globally 2019, projected higher
- Global road freight transport 3.6 GtCO2 in 2022, 45% of transport total
- Residential buildings CO2 1.2 GtCO2 direct in 2022 OECD countries
- Commercial buildings emitted 0.8 GtCO2 globally 2022, lighting/HVAC main
- Fugitive emissions from oil/gas 1.2 GtCO2eq 2022, 3% global
- Waste sector CO2 1.4 GtCO2eq 2022, landfills dominant
- Global fishing vessels emitted 250 MtCO2 in 2016, likely higher now
- Data centers/comm global electricity CO2 footprint 180 MtCO2 2022
- Sports/recreation emitted 0.3 GtCO2eq annually pre-COVID
Emissions by Sector Interpretation
It's a stark reminder that modern civilization is essentially a club where industry, transport, and power generation are the rowdy members running up the tab, while everything else, from our homes to our hobbies, is chipping in for a bar bill the planet can't afford.
Future Projections
- Global CO2 projected to peak before 2030 at 37-40 Gt under current policies
- Net zero by 2050 requires 7.6 Gt/yr CO2 cuts by 2030, 6%/yr decline
- China emissions to plateau 2025 at 12 Gt, decline post-2030
- Global emissions under NDCs rise to 52 GtCO2eq by 2030, +10% vs 2019
- IEA Net Zero 2050: transport CO2 down 80% by 2030 from 2020
- Power sector CO2 to fall 50% by 2030 in 1.5C pathway, to 7 Gt
- Industry emissions projected drop 30% 2020-2030 with CCUS
- Aviation CO2 to double by 2050 without action, to 2 Gt
- Global CCS capacity to reach 1 Gt/yr capture by 2030, up from 0.04 Gt
- EU emissions to fall 55% by 2030 from 1990, to 1.5 GtCO2
- US under IRA: emissions down 40% by 2030 from 2005
- India emissions to 4.4 Gt by 2030, double current
- Direct air capture to remove 0.5 GtCO2/yr by 2050
- Global steel CO2 to halve by 2050 with green hydrogen, to 1 Gt
- Transport electrification: EV CO2 savings 1 Gt/yr by 2030
- Cement CO2 down 20% by 2030 with efficiency, to 1.8 Gt
- 1.5C limit: cumulative 2018-2100 budget 400 GtCO2 remaining
- Methane reductions could avoid 0.3C warming by 2050, indirect CO2eq
- Global bioenergy with CCS to sequester 5 GtCO2/yr by 2050
Future Projections Interpretation
While the projected plateau of global emissions before 2030 offers a glimmer of hope, the dizzying array of targets and deadlines reveals a frantic race where our progress, though real, is still being lapped by the sheer scale of the problem.
Global Total Emissions
- Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement production reached 37.4 GtCO2 in 2023, marking a new record high driven by increased coal use in Asia
- Total anthropogenic CO2 emissions worldwide amounted to 36.8 GtCO2 in 2022, with fossil fuel combustion accounting for 86% of the total
- In 2021, global CO2 emissions rebounded to 36.3 GtCO2 post-COVID, 4.8% higher than 2020 levels but still 3.7% below 2019 peaks
- Cumulative global CO2 emissions from 1750 to 2022 total 2,590 GtCO2, with 85% occurring after 1950
- Global CO2 emissions per capita averaged 4.7 tonnes in 2022, up from 4.6 in 2021 due to economic recovery
- In 2023, aviation sector contributed 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, totaling 920 MtCO2 from international flights alone
- Global cement production emitted 2.3 GtCO2 in 2022, representing 6% of total anthropogenic emissions
- Flaring of natural gas released 348 MtCO2 globally in 2022, equivalent to 0.9% of total emissions
- International shipping emitted 1.05 GtCO2 in 2022, accounting for 3% of global total and surpassing aviation
- Global CO2 emissions from deforestation averaged 1.5 GtCO2 per year between 2010-2019
- In 2020, global CO2 emissions dropped 5.4% to 34.8 GtCO2 due to COVID-19 lockdowns
- Bioenergy CO2 emissions globally reached 4.1 GtCO2 in 2022, but considered carbon neutral under current accounting
- Global steel production emitted 2.0 GtCO2 in 2022 from blast furnaces, 5% of total emissions
- In 2023, global power sector CO2 emissions hit 14.6 GtCO2, driven by coal in China and India
- Land-use change CO2 emissions totaled 3.9 GtCO2eq in 2022, offsetting 10% of fossil removals
- Global aluminum production emitted 1.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 2.7% of total emissions
- Petrochemicals contributed 1.7 GtCO2 to global emissions in 2022 from energy use and processes
- Global CO2 capture and storage captured only 43 MtCO2 in 2023, 0.1% of emissions
- Waste incineration emitted 120 MtCO2 globally in 2022, minor but growing contributor
- Global road transport CO2 emissions were 6.6 GtCO2 in 2022, 18% of total
Global Total Emissions Interpretation
While our report card reads "new record high," the fine print reveals an alarming truth: we're setting new personal bests in emitting CO2 across virtually every sector, from our power grids to our morning commutes, while the technologies to capture these emissions remain stuck in the "just getting started" phase.
Historical Trends
- Global CO2 emissions grew from 15 Gt in 1950 to 37 Gt in 2023, tripling in 70 years
- Pre-industrial CO2 concentration 280 ppm, rose to 419 ppm by 2023, +50%
- US CO2 peaked at 6.0 Gt in 2007, fell 20% to 4.8 Gt by 2022
- World coal CO2 emissions doubled from 1980-2013, then plateaued
- EU emissions down 34% from 1990 to 2022, from 4.7 Gt to 3.1 Gt
- China's emissions surged from 2.5 Gt in 2000 to 11.9 Gt 2022, x4.8
- Global oil CO2 emissions stable since 2008 at ~12 Gt annually
- Natural gas CO2 tripled 1990-2022 to 8 Gt globally
- Deforestation CO2 emissions halved from 2001-2020, from 3 Gt to 1.5 Gt/yr
- Aviation CO2 grew 3x from 1990-2019 to 1 Gt
- Global cement CO2 doubled 1990-2014, then flat at 2.3 Gt
- Transport CO2 up 70% 1990-2022 globally
- Power sector CO2 emissions rose 50% 2000-2023 to 14.5 Gt
- Per capita CO2 peaked 2012 at 5 t/person, now 4.7 t
- Cumulative emissions 1850-2021: US 25%, EU 17%, China 11%
- Global steel CO2 emissions up 60% 2000-2022
- CO2 growth rate slowed post-2013 from 3%/yr to 0.9%/yr avg
- Pandemic drop 2020: 1.9 Gt less CO2, largest ever annual decline
Historical Trends Interpretation
Our relentless, globe-trotting carbon spree has more plot twists than a telenovela, yet the sobering finale is that the planet's fever chart still reads "escalating, with brief moments of promising delusion."
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