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
- 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
- China's coal-related CO2 emissions reached 11.9 GtCO2 in 2023
- EU-27 CO2 emissions from fossil fuels declined to 2.6 GtCO2 in 2022, down 7.4% from 2019
- Global aviation CO2 emissions were 1.0 GtCO2 in 2023, recovering to 103% of 2019 levels
- India's CO2 emissions grew by 4.7% to 2.8 GtCO2 in 2023, driven by coal power
- Cement production emitted 2.3 GtCO2 globally in 2022, 6% of total anthropogenic CO2
- Global steel industry CO2 emissions stood at 2.0 GtCO2 in 2022
- Transport sector global CO2 emissions were 8.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 21% of total
- Electricity and heat production emitted 14.5 GtCO2 worldwide in 2022
- Japan's CO2 emissions fell 2.2% to 1.0 GtCO2 in 2022
- Russia's fossil CO2 emissions were 1.7 GtCO2 in 2022 despite war impacts
- Brazil's CO2 emissions from energy rose 1.5% to 0.5 GtCO2 in 2022
- Global oil CO2 emissions totaled 11.6 GtCO2 in 2023
- Natural gas combustion emitted 8.0 GtCO2 globally in 2022
- South Korea's CO2 emissions hit 0.65 GtCO2 in 2022
- Australia's coal exports drove 0.4 GtCO2 emissions in 2022
- Global shipping CO2 emissions reached 1.0 GtCO2 in 2022, 3% of total
- Flared gas CO2 emissions were 0.23 GtCO2 globally in 2022
- Canada's oil sands CO2 emissions totaled 0.08 GtCO2 in 2022
- Saudi Arabia's CO2 emissions from oil were 0.6 GtCO2 in 2022
- Indonesia's coal power CO2 hit 0.4 GtCO2 in 2023
- Mexico's energy CO2 emissions were 0.45 GtCO2 in 2022
- Turkey's cement CO2 emissions reached 0.08 GtCO2 in 2022
- Iran's fossil CO2 emissions stood at 0.75 GtCO2 in 2022
- Global aluminum production CO2 was 0.6 GtCO2 in 2022
- Nigeria's gas flaring CO2 was 0.04 GtCO2 in 2022
- Vietnam's coal CO2 emissions grew to 0.25 GtCO2 in 2023
- Global petrochemical CO2 emissions were 1.1 GtCO2 in 2022
CO2 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
- 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
- HFC-134a was 25% of F-gas emissions at 0.05 GtCO2eq in 2020
- US HFC consumption emitted 0.12 GtCO2eq in 2022
- China's F-gas emissions rose 10% to 0.15 GtCO2eq in 2022
- EU F-gas phase-down reduced emissions to 0.08 GtCO2eq in 2022
- India's AC sector HFC 0.03 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Brazil's refrigeration HFC 0.01 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Global mobile AC HFC emissions 0.04 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Australia's F-gas emissions 0.005 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Canada's HFC from foams 0.008 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Semiconductor manufacturing PFCs 0.002 GtCO2eq globally
- Nigeria's minimal F-gas 0.0005 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Indonesia HFC from refrigeration 0.008 GtCO2eq
- Mexico's commercial refrigeration HFC 0.005 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Turkey F-gas emissions 0.003 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Iran's HFC negligible at 0.002 GtCO2eq
- Vietnam's growing AC HFC 0.004 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Global NF3 emissions from electronics 0.001 GtCO2eq annually
Fluorinated 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
- 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
- Landfills produced 70 MtCH4 worldwide in 2022
- Enteric fermentation from cattle emitted 132 MtCH4 in 2019 globally
- Coal mining CH4 emissions were 45 MtCH4 in 2022
- Wastewater treatment CH4 was 25 MtCH4 globally in 2020
- Rice cultivation emitted 38 MtCH4 in 2022, mainly in Asia
- US oil and gas CH4 emissions totaled 28 MtCH4 in 2022
- Russia's CH4 from fossil fuels was 40 MtCH4 in 2022
- China's agricultural CH4 emissions reached 55 MtCH4 in 2020
- EU agricultural CH4 declined to 20 MtCH4 in 2022
- Global rice paddies CH4 was 29 MtCH4 in 2019
- Dairy cattle enteric CH4 globally 60 MtCH4 in 2022
- Australian landfill CH4 emissions 4 MtCH4 in 2022
- Brazilian cattle CH4 from enteric was 22 MtCH4 in 2022
- India's rice CH4 emissions totaled 15 MtCH4 in 2020
- Canadian oil sands CH4 leaked 3 MtCH4 in 2022
- Global manure management CH4 was 20 MtCH4 in 2022
- Nigerian gas CH4 emissions 12 MtCH4 in 2022
- Saudi Aramco facilities emitted 0.8 MtCH4 in 2022
- Indonesia's palm oil CH4 from wastewater 2 MtCH4 in 2020
- Mexico's landfill CH4 was 3 MtCH4 in 2022
- Turkey's coal mine CH4 1.5 MtCH4 in 2022
- Iran's oil CH4 super-emitters leaked 5 MtCH4 in 2022
- Vietnam rice CH4 8 MtCH4 in 2022
- Global peatland CH4 emissions 30 MtCH4 annually
Methane 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
- 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
- Crop residue N2O emissions totaled 1.2 MtN2O worldwide in 2020
- US agricultural N2O was 0.4 MtN2O in 2022
- China's fertilizer N2O emissions reached 0.9 MtN2O in 2020
- EU N2O from soils declined 15% to 0.3 MtN2O since 1990
- India's rice N2O emissions 0.2 MtN2O in 2020
- Brazil's fertilizer N2O rose to 0.15 MtN2O in 2022
- Global aquaculture N2O was 0.1 MtN2O in 2020
- Australia's agricultural N2O 0.05 MtN2O in 2022
- Canada's fertilizer N2O emissions 0.08 MtN2O in 2022
- Wastewater N2O globally 0.3 MtN2O in 2022
- Nigeria's fertilizer N2O 0.02 MtN2O in 2020
- Indonesia's palm oil N2O 0.04 MtN2O in 2022
- Mexico agricultural N2O 0.06 MtN2O in 2022
- Turkey's fertilizer N2O 0.03 MtN2O in 2022
- Iran's agricultural N2O 0.1 MtN2O in 2020
- Vietnam's rice N2O 0.05 MtN2O in 2022
- Global burning crop residues N2O 0.4 MtN2O annually
N2O 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
- 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
- US total GHG emissions 6.3 GtCO2eq in 2022, down 3% from 2005
- China emitted 14.9 GtCO2eq total GHGs in 2022, 30% global share
- EU-27 total GHGs 3.6 GtCO2eq in 2022, 6.7% below 1990
- India total GHG 3.6 GtCO2eq in 2019, up 65% from 2005
- Brazil total GHG 1.2 GtCO2eq in 2022, driven by land use
- Waste sector global GHG 3.3 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Industrial processes 12% of GHGs at 6.9 GtCO2eq globally
- Russia's total GHG 2.6 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Japan's total GHG 1.2 GtCO2eq in 2022, down 24% from 2013 peak
- Australia's total GHG 0.47 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Canada's total GHG 0.7 GtCO2eq in 2022, up 1.5%
- Indonesia total GHG 1.4 GtCO2eq in 2022, mostly land use
- Mexico total GHG 0.7 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Turkey total GHG 0.55 GtCO2eq in 2022, up 100% since 1990
- Iran's total GHG 0.9 GtCO2eq in 2020
- Vietnam total GHG 0.4 GtCO2eq in 2022
- Nigeria total GHG 0.5 GtCO2eq in 2022, gas dominant
Total 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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