Co2 Emissions Statistics (2026): Expert Analysis

Co2 emissions shape air quality, climate risk, and national development paths. Here we compare the latest country and sector totals, then connect them to global trends and policy goals. You’ll also see how emissions are projected to evolve under current policies, NDCs, and the pathway to net zero.

Key Takeaways

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 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 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
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

01 · Category

Emissions By Country18 stats

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%

02 · Category

Emissions By Sector18 stats

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

03 · Category

Future Projections19 stats

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

Environmental EcologicalMethane Statistics

04 · Category

Global Total Emissions20 stats

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

05 · Category

Historical Trends18 stats

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

report visual · Comparison

Co2 Emissions Statistics statistics snapshot

Selected headline statistics from verified sources for a stable visual baseline.

In 2022, China's CO2 emissions totaled 11.9 GtCO2, 32% of global total32%

United States emitted 5.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 13.5% of world total, down 0.8% from 202113.5%

India's CO2 emissions reached 2.9 GtCO2 in 2023, 8% of global, up 4.7% year-on-year8%

Russia's CO2 output stood at 1.7 GtCO2 in 2022, 4.6% global share, stable despite war4.6%

Japan's emissions fell to 1.06 GtCO2 in 2022, 2.9% of world, down 2.3%2.9%

EU-27 collective emissions were 2.8 GtCO2 in 2022, down 2.5% from prior year2.5%

Reference

Cite This Report

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APA

Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Co2 Emissions Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/co2-emissions-statistics

MLA

Henrik Dahl. "Co2 Emissions Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/co2-emissions-statistics.

Chicago

Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Co2 Emissions Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/co2-emissions-statistics.

Sources & references

35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

Co2 Emissions Statistics