Beneath the familiar glow of our screens and the hum of our engines lies an inconvenient truth: the staggering scale of global greenhouse gas emissions, from the 37.4 billion tonnes of CO2 released in 2023 to the pervasive methane from agriculture and industry, is painting an unprecedented portrait of our planetary impact.
Key Takeaways
- Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industrial processes were 37.4 GtCO2 in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022
- In 2022, coal combustion accounted for 40% of global fossil CO2 emissions at 15.0 GtCO2
- US CO2 emissions from energy use totaled 4.8 GtCO2 in 2022, representing 13% of global total
- Global anthropogenic CH4 emissions totaled 580 MtCH4 (359 MtCH4eq) in 2022
- Agriculture contributed 40% of global CH4 emissions at 232 MtCH4 in 2020
- Oil and gas sector emitted 120 MtCH4 globally in 2022, 21% of total
- Global N2O emissions from agriculture were 4.1 MtN2O (1.3 GtCO2eq) in 2022
- Synthetic fertilizers caused 45% of agricultural N2O at 1.8 MtN2O in 2019
- Manure management N2O globally 0.8 MtN2O in 2022
- Global HFC emissions were 0.2 GtCO2eq in 2022, driven by refrigeration
- SF6 emissions from electrical equipment totaled 0.05 GtCO2eq globally in 2022
- PFC emissions from aluminum smelting 0.01 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Global GHG emissions reached 57.4 GtCO2eq in 2022, up 1.2% from 2021
- Energy sector contributed 75% of total GHG at 43 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Agriculture, forestry, land use 22% of GHGs at 12.6 GtCO2eq in 2019
Global fossil emissions keep rising, driven by coal, but regional declines show progress.
CO2 Emissions
1Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industrial processes were 37.4 GtCO2 in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022
Verified2In 2022, coal combustion accounted for 40% of global fossil CO2 emissions at 15.0 GtCO2
Verified3US CO2 emissions from energy use totaled 4.8 GtCO2 in 2022, representing 13% of global total
Verified4China's coal-related CO2 emissions reached 11.9 GtCO2 in 2023
Directional5EU-27 CO2 emissions from fossil fuels declined to 2.6 GtCO2 in 2022, down 7.4% from 2019
Single source6Global aviation CO2 emissions were 1.0 GtCO2 in 2023, recovering to 103% of 2019 levels
Verified7India's CO2 emissions grew by 4.7% to 2.8 GtCO2 in 2023, driven by coal power
Verified8Cement production emitted 2.3 GtCO2 globally in 2022, 6% of total anthropogenic CO2
Verified9Global steel industry CO2 emissions stood at 2.0 GtCO2 in 2022
Directional10Transport sector global CO2 emissions were 8.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 21% of total
Single source11Electricity and heat production emitted 14.5 GtCO2 worldwide in 2022
Verified12Japan's CO2 emissions fell 2.2% to 1.0 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified13Russia's fossil CO2 emissions were 1.7 GtCO2 in 2022 despite war impacts
Verified14Brazil's CO2 emissions from energy rose 1.5% to 0.5 GtCO2 in 2022
Directional15Global oil CO2 emissions totaled 11.6 GtCO2 in 2023
Single source16Natural gas combustion emitted 8.0 GtCO2 globally in 2022
Verified17South Korea's CO2 emissions hit 0.65 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified18Australia's coal exports drove 0.4 GtCO2 emissions in 2022
Verified19Global shipping CO2 emissions reached 1.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 3% of total
Directional20Flared gas CO2 emissions were 0.23 GtCO2 globally in 2022
Single source21Canada's oil sands CO2 emissions totaled 0.08 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified22Saudi Arabia's CO2 emissions from oil were 0.6 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified23Indonesia's coal power CO2 hit 0.4 GtCO2 in 2023
Verified24Mexico's energy CO2 emissions were 0.45 GtCO2 in 2022
Directional25Turkey's cement CO2 emissions reached 0.08 GtCO2 in 2022
Single source26Iran's fossil CO2 emissions stood at 0.75 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified27Global aluminum production CO2 was 0.6 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified28Nigeria's gas flaring CO2 was 0.04 GtCO2 in 2022
Verified29Vietnam's coal CO2 emissions grew to 0.25 GtCO2 in 2023
Directional30Global petrochemical CO2 emissions were 1.1 GtCO2 in 2022
Single sourceCO2 Emissions Interpretation
While coal stubbornly clings to its role as the planet’s primary polluter, a grim orchestra of industries, from jet-setting aviation to cement-wielding construction, joins in to ensure our annual emissions report reads like a record we desperately need to stop spinning.
Fluorinated Gases
1Global HFC emissions were 0.2 GtCO2eq in 2022, driven by refrigeration
Verified2SF6 emissions from electrical equipment totaled 0.05 GtCO2eq globally in 2022
Verified3PFC emissions from aluminum smelting 0.01 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified4HFC-134a was 25% of F-gas emissions at 0.05 GtCO2eq in 2020
Directional5US HFC consumption emitted 0.12 GtCO2eq in 2022
Single source6China's F-gas emissions rose 10% to 0.15 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified7EU F-gas phase-down reduced emissions to 0.08 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified8India's AC sector HFC 0.03 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified9Brazil's refrigeration HFC 0.01 GtCO2eq in 2022
Directional10Global mobile AC HFC emissions 0.04 GtCO2eq in 2022
Single source11Australia's F-gas emissions 0.005 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified12Canada's HFC from foams 0.008 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified13Semiconductor manufacturing PFCs 0.002 GtCO2eq globally
Verified14Nigeria's minimal F-gas 0.0005 GtCO2eq in 2022
Directional15Indonesia HFC from refrigeration 0.008 GtCO2eq
Single source16Mexico's commercial refrigeration HFC 0.005 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified17Turkey F-gas emissions 0.003 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified18Iran's HFC negligible at 0.002 GtCO2eq
Verified19Vietnam's growing AC HFC 0.004 GtCO2eq in 2022
Directional20Global NF3 emissions from electronics 0.001 GtCO2eq annually
Single sourceFluorinated Gases Interpretation
From household cooling to electronics manufacturing, the global cold chain and our gadgets are quietly cooking the planet with potent fluorinated gases, proving that even the smallest leaks can collectively create a climate catastrophe we can no longer ignore.
Methane Emissions
1Global anthropogenic CH4 emissions totaled 580 MtCH4 (359 MtCH4eq) in 2022
Verified2Agriculture contributed 40% of global CH4 emissions at 232 MtCH4 in 2020
Verified3Oil and gas sector emitted 120 MtCH4 globally in 2022, 21% of total
Verified4Landfills produced 70 MtCH4 worldwide in 2022
Directional5Enteric fermentation from cattle emitted 132 MtCH4 in 2019 globally
Single source6Coal mining CH4 emissions were 45 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified7Wastewater treatment CH4 was 25 MtCH4 globally in 2020
Verified8Rice cultivation emitted 38 MtCH4 in 2022, mainly in Asia
Verified9US oil and gas CH4 emissions totaled 28 MtCH4 in 2022
Directional10Russia's CH4 from fossil fuels was 40 MtCH4 in 2022
Single source11China's agricultural CH4 emissions reached 55 MtCH4 in 2020
Verified12EU agricultural CH4 declined to 20 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified13Global rice paddies CH4 was 29 MtCH4 in 2019
Verified14Dairy cattle enteric CH4 globally 60 MtCH4 in 2022
Directional15Australian landfill CH4 emissions 4 MtCH4 in 2022
Single source16Brazilian cattle CH4 from enteric was 22 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified17India's rice CH4 emissions totaled 15 MtCH4 in 2020
Verified18Canadian oil sands CH4 leaked 3 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified19Global manure management CH4 was 20 MtCH4 in 2022
Directional20Nigerian gas CH4 emissions 12 MtCH4 in 2022
Single source21Saudi Aramco facilities emitted 0.8 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified22Indonesia's palm oil CH4 from wastewater 2 MtCH4 in 2020
Verified23Mexico's landfill CH4 was 3 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified24Turkey's coal mine CH4 1.5 MtCH4 in 2022
Directional25Iran's oil CH4 super-emitters leaked 5 MtCH4 in 2022
Single source26Vietnam rice CH4 8 MtCH4 in 2022
Verified27Global peatland CH4 emissions 30 MtCH4 annually
VerifiedMethane Emissions Interpretation
If our planet's methane budget were a disastrous dinner party, agriculture brought the gassy main course, the fossil fuel industry uncorked a vintage of leaks and flares, and landfills provided the regrettable leftovers, proving we're not just warming the globe but hosting a veritable symphony of regrettable emissions.
N2O Emissions
1Global N2O emissions from agriculture were 4.1 MtN2O (1.3 GtCO2eq) in 2022
Verified2Synthetic fertilizers caused 45% of agricultural N2O at 1.8 MtN2O in 2019
Verified3Manure management N2O globally 0.8 MtN2O in 2022
Verified4Crop residue N2O emissions totaled 1.2 MtN2O worldwide in 2020
Directional5US agricultural N2O was 0.4 MtN2O in 2022
Single source6China's fertilizer N2O emissions reached 0.9 MtN2O in 2020
Verified7EU N2O from soils declined 15% to 0.3 MtN2O since 1990
Verified8India's rice N2O emissions 0.2 MtN2O in 2020
Verified9Brazil's fertilizer N2O rose to 0.15 MtN2O in 2022
Directional10Global aquaculture N2O was 0.1 MtN2O in 2020
Single source11Australia's agricultural N2O 0.05 MtN2O in 2022
Verified12Canada's fertilizer N2O emissions 0.08 MtN2O in 2022
Verified13Wastewater N2O globally 0.3 MtN2O in 2022
Verified14Nigeria's fertilizer N2O 0.02 MtN2O in 2020
Directional15Indonesia's palm oil N2O 0.04 MtN2O in 2022
Single source16Mexico agricultural N2O 0.06 MtN2O in 2022
Verified17Turkey's fertilizer N2O 0.03 MtN2O in 2022
Verified18Iran's agricultural N2O 0.1 MtN2O in 2020
Verified19Vietnam's rice N2O 0.05 MtN2O in 2022
Directional20Global burning crop residues N2O 0.4 MtN2O annually
Single sourceN2O Emissions Interpretation
Our global agricultural system has become a factory for nitrous oxide, with synthetic fertilizers serving as the chief foreman, manure management as the smelly sidekick, and every uneaten crop residue adding its own giggle to the greenhouse gas party.
Total GHG Emissions
1Global GHG emissions reached 57.4 GtCO2eq in 2022, up 1.2% from 2021
Verified2Energy sector contributed 75% of total GHG at 43 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified3Agriculture, forestry, land use 22% of GHGs at 12.6 GtCO2eq in 2019
Verified4US total GHG emissions 6.3 GtCO2eq in 2022, down 3% from 2005
Directional5China emitted 14.9 GtCO2eq total GHGs in 2022, 30% global share
Single source6EU-27 total GHGs 3.6 GtCO2eq in 2022, 6.7% below 1990
Verified7India total GHG 3.6 GtCO2eq in 2019, up 65% from 2005
Verified8Brazil total GHG 1.2 GtCO2eq in 2022, driven by land use
Verified9Waste sector global GHG 3.3 GtCO2eq in 2022
Directional10Industrial processes 12% of GHGs at 6.9 GtCO2eq globally
Single source11Russia's total GHG 2.6 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified12Japan's total GHG 1.2 GtCO2eq in 2022, down 24% from 2013 peak
Verified13Australia's total GHG 0.47 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified14Canada's total GHG 0.7 GtCO2eq in 2022, up 1.5%
Directional15Indonesia total GHG 1.4 GtCO2eq in 2022, mostly land use
Single source16Mexico total GHG 0.7 GtCO2eq in 2022
Verified17Turkey total GHG 0.55 GtCO2eq in 2022, up 100% since 1990
Verified18Iran's total GHG 0.9 GtCO2eq in 2020
Verified19Vietnam total GHG 0.4 GtCO2eq in 2022
Directional20Nigeria total GHG 0.5 GtCO2eq in 2022, gas dominant
Single sourceTotal GHG Emissions Interpretation
Despite a cacophony of national footnotes, from China's outsized solo to the EU's muted, steady decline, the global orchestra of emissions is still crescendoing toward a climate catastrophe, with the energy sector stubbornly conducting three-quarters of the tune.
Sources & References
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