By Abbas Nazil
China remains the world’s largest contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 33.98 percent of global output, according to newly compiled 2023–2024 data on emissions and per capita pollution levels.
The United States follows as the second-highest emitter, responsible for 12 percent of global emissions, while India ranks third with 7.57 percent, highlighting the dominance of major economies in driving global carbon output.
The data, sourced from the Global Carbon Budget and EU JRC/EDGAR, also reveals significant contributions from Russia at 5.30 percent and Japan at 2.42 percent, placing them among the top five global polluters.
Further down the list, Iran contributes 2 percent, Indonesia 1.73 percent, Saudi Arabia 1.60 percent, Germany 1.49 percent, and South Korea 1.47 percent, completing the top ten countries responsible for the majority of global emissions.
While total emissions figures show overall national contributions, per capita data presents a different perspective on individual environmental impact across countries.
Saudi Arabia records one of the highest per capita emissions at 17.15 tonnes of CO₂ per person, followed by the United States at 13.83 tonnes and South Korea at 11.04 tonnes, indicating higher consumption patterns despite smaller population sizes compared to countries like China and India.
Russia and Iran also show relatively high per capita emissions at 14.45 tonnes and 9.10 tonnes respectively, while China records 9.24 tonnes per capita, reflecting its large population and industrial base.
In contrast, India’s per capita emissions stand significantly lower at 2.07 tonnes, despite being the third-largest emitter overall, underscoring disparities between total emissions and individual carbon footprints.
Germany and Japan report moderate per capita emissions of 7.06 tonnes and 7.54 tonnes respectively, reflecting more energy-efficient systems compared to some other industrialized nations.
The data highlights the complex dynamics of global emissions, where both population size and industrial activity play critical roles in determining a country’s environmental impact.
Experts say the figures reinforce the need for coordinated international climate action, balancing responsibilities between high total emitters and countries with high per capita emissions.
The report underscores growing pressure on leading economies to accelerate emissions reductions as global climate concerns intensify.
