In this article, we will list 20 countries with most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. If you want to skip our discussion about carbon emission and productivity, go to 7 Countries With Most Carbon Dioxide Emission Per Capita.
Carbon dioxide emissions take the largest share of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. These gases disrupt the balance between solar energy that the earth absorbs and radiates back into the atmosphere. This leads to an increase in the temperature of the earth’s surface and changes in climate, sea levels, and agriculture. The main sources of man-made carbon dioxide emissions are burning oil, coal, natural gas, and waste material. Fossil fuels are the primary drivers of greenhouse gas emissions. Their low cost makes them preferable for industries involved in making fossil fuel-derived goods such as fuel, plastic, and oil.
China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, but the country has recently shown stable overall output. In addition, China’s per capita emissions are quite low compared to other developed economies, and the country is not a part of our list of the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The United States, on the other hand, ranks quite high on a per capita carbon dioxide emissions basis, although you would likely have to go through the list to know what position it currently holds.
Europe leads the green policy with its transformation to environment-friendly alternatives. In 2022, the continent saw a 2.5% decrease in its emissions. This decrease in emissions happened at the same time when the United States witnessed a 0.8% surge in emissions. During the same year, Asia saw a 4.2% surge in carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 206 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The good news is that while carbon dioxide emissions are at record levels today, their growth is slowing down. It rose by 1.1% in 2023, increasing by 410 million tonnes to a record 37.4 billion tonnes. However, this gain in carbon dioxide emissions slowed down in 2023 as it was 490 million tonnes in 2022. Green technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, nuclear power, and electric cars have a huge contribution to this slowdown. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), without such technologies, carbon dioxide emissions would have been three times more than they were in the last five years.
Innovative and sustainable measures are being taken by major economies to curb their carbon footprints. The European Union leads the path of reduction of carbon footprint. The EU aims to capture and store up to 450 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2050 to reach its net-zero goals. The captured carbon dioxide will be used in industrial processes, which would require companies in Europe to transform their production methods and shift towards green energy.
Carbon productivity is an emerging concept and one that is at the center of discussions regarding decreasing carbon footprint. It refers to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of energy. The lower this amount, the higher the carbon productivity. It essentially measures the return on carbon employed in making materials and products. More carbon-productive companies generate more value from less fossil fuel. Some of these companies include Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM) and Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF).
Wheaton Precious Metal Corp. (NYSE:WPM) is one of the leaders in the mining industry. The company is dedicated to lowering its greenhouse gas emissions. Wheaton Precious Metal Corp. (NYSE:WPM) committed $4 million in 2021 to develop collaborative solutions for a sustainable future.
Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF) is a Canadian financial services and life insurance company that has invested $14.2 billion in renewable energy, clean transportation, and green buildings, reducing its carbon footprint. Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE:SLF) also achieved a reduction of 36.9% in GHG emissions across its operations in 2022.
With that backdrop, let’s look at the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita.
A truck on a highway, its exhausts billowing in the air.
Methodology
To curate our list of the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita, we used Our World In Data’s Carbon Emission Per Capita table. The higher this figure, the higher the countries rank in our list. All the figures are given in tonnes.
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20 – Russia
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 11.4 T
Russia is one of the countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, make up a significant portion of energy production in the country’s energy production and export revenues. Although Russia has a large nuclear fleet and extensive hydropower contributes to its energy mix, these sources are not sufficient to reduce its carbon emissions to a level comparable to other developed countries.
19 – South Korea
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 11.6 T
South Korea relies heavily on coal for its energy production, landing it in the 19th position on our list of the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The country has set targets to transition towards renewable energy sources, as it aims to achieve 20% renewable electricity by 2030 and 30-35% by 2040, up from 3% in 2017.
18 – Luxembourg
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 11.6 T
Luxembourg has the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions among all the EU member states. Its high per capita carbon emission is particularly because of its small population yet heavy reliance on fossil fuels. However, the country has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.
17 – Taiwan
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 11.6 T
Taiwan’s per capita carbon dioxide emissions have increased over the last few years. Its high carbon dioxide emissions are attributed to its industrial activities, energy production, and transportation sector. However, the country has made a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
16 – Palau
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 12.1 T
Palau is 16th on our list of the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Its high carbon dioxide emission is attributed to the country’s two diesel-fired power stations and the use of private vehicles, boats, and aircraft due to its many small islands. The country’s small population size and reliance on diesel-fired power stations contribute significantly to its high per capita carbon emissions.
15 – Kazakhstan
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 14 T
Kazakhstan is among the top 15 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The country’s reliance on coal and other fossil fuels for energy generation contributes significantly to its carbon footprint.
14 – Faroe Island
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 14.1 T
Despite Faroe Island’s efforts to incorporate clean energy sources like hydropower and wind energy, it still ranks high on the list of countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Its historical reliance on traditional energy sources and the challenges of a small, dispersed population on multiple islands contribute to the higher per capita carbon emissions.
13 – Canada
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 14.2 T
Canada is 13th on our list of the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The country’s high per capita emissions are because of its reliance on fossil fuels for energy production and transportation. In addition, the main sources of carbon emissions in Canada are from the energy sector, particularly from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation. However, Canada has been taking steps to reduce its carbon emissions, including setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030.
12 – Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 14.4 T
Sint Maarten relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy production, which has made it among the top countries on the basis of carbon dioxide emissions per capita. However, the country has been taking steps to reduce its carbon emissions, including implementing policies to promote renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.
11 – United States
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 14.9 T
The United States is 11th on our list of the 20 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. It also consistently ranks among the top three countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions. United State’s reliance on fossil fuels for energy production and transportation contributes significantly to its high per capita carbon emissions. However, it is taking steps to reduce carbon emissions, including setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
10 – Australia
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 15.0 T
Australia is 10th on our list of countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The country’s high per capita emissions are primarily due to its heavy reliance on coal for energy production.
9 – Oman
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 15.7 T
Oman is among the countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. The main sources of carbon emissions in Oman are from the energy sector, particularly from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation and industrial processes.
8 – New Caledonia
Annual Per Capita C02 Emissions – 17.6 T
New Caledonia is 8th on our list of the 10 countries with the most carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Its energy sector’s reliance on fossil fuels is the main reason for its high per capita carbon emissions.
Click to continue reading and see 7 Countries With Most Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Capita.
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Disclosure: none. 20 Countries With Most Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Capita is originally published on Insider Monkey
