Carbon Footprints & where the world Stands

(Data Source fromEuropean Union's Joint Research Centre)

A carbon footprint, defined by the WHO as the weight of CO2 emissions created in tonnes, is a measurement of the effect your actions have on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced through the combustion of fossil fuels.

For instance, burning gasoline while driving, heating our homes with gas or oil, or using electricity produced from coal, natural gas, and oil all result in the release of greenhouse gases. Individuals emit different amounts of greenhouse gases depending on their environment, lifestyle, and personal preferences.

The highest portion of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020—27%—come from the transportation sector. The primary source of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions is the combustion of fossil fuels in our automobiles, trucks, ships, trains, and aeroplanes.

According to the European Union's Joint Research Centre, total global CO2 emissions increased from 34.1 GT in 2010 to 37.9 GT—an all-time high—in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions on travel and transportation triggered a decrease to 35.962 GT in 2020,

Top 10 CO2-emitting countries in the world (Total CO2 in Mt) - EU JRC 2020

1. China — 11680.42

2. United States — 4535.30

3. India — 2411.73

4. Russia — 1674.23

5. Japan — 1061.77

6. Iran — 690.24

7. Germany — 636.88

8. South Korea — 621.47

9. Saudi Arabia — 588.81

10. Indonesia — 568.27

For a more accurate measure of whether a country's policies are succeeding or failing to reduce CO2 emissions, it is often helpful to examine not only total emissions, but also CO2 emissions per capita. Top 15 Countries with the Highest CO2 Emissions per Capita (t) - EU JRC 2020

1. Palau — 55.29

2. Qatar — 35.64

3. Trinidad and Tobago — 21.97

4. Bahrain — 21.60

5. Kuwait — 20.91

6. United Arab Emirates — 20.70

7. Brunei Darussalam — 17.95

8. Saudi Arabia — 16.96

9. Oman — 16.9

10. Australia — 15.22

11. Canada — 14.43

12. Kazakhstan — 14.22

13. United States — 13.68

14. Turkmenistan — 13.37

15. Luxembourg — 13.24

With 13.68 tonnes, the United States has the thirteenth-highest per capita emissions, behind Russia (11.64), Japan (8.39), China (8.20), and India (1.74 tonnes), which ranks 110th overall. In contrast, a number of emerging countries hold the top ranks, mostly as a result of less tightly controlled energy, manufacturing, and transportation sectors.