India ranks among world's top three carbon emitters

China and the United States lead global fossil fuel emissions

China leads the world in fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 31.8% of the global total. The nation is responsible for almost one-third of worldwide fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions.

The United States accounts for about one-eighth of global fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions in 2024. Per-capita fossil carbon dioxide emissions in 2024 were 14.2 tonnes in the United States , 8.7 tonnes in China , and 2.2 tonnes in India.

Industrial activities drive emissions in Russia, Japan, and Germany

Russia’s emissions come from its large oil and gas industry, energy-intensive industrial activities, and domestic heating. Germany’s carbon footprint stems from its industrial sector, specifically the automotive industry and electricity generation.

Japan’s emissions reflect an advanced industrial economy, including manufacturing, cars, electronics, steel, and chemicals. South Korea has a considerable industrial footprint in electronics, shipbuilding, automobiles, steel, and petrochemicals, relying heavily on coal and natural gas.

Emerging economies and oil-dependent nations contribute to global output

Indonesia’s emissions stem from coal-based electricity generation, expanding industry, and a growing population. Emissions from land-use change in Indonesia are reported separately.

Iran’s substantial oil and natural gas sector is a key driver of its carbon output, alongside domestic energy consumption and industrial processes. Saudi Arabia’s carbon footprint is large due to oil production and consumption, as well as energy-intensive activities such as air-conditioning and desalination.

Fossil fuel reliance continues to outpace renewable energy progress

Oil contributed roughly 32% of global fossil CO2 emissions in 2024, according to the Global Carbon Budget 2025. Natural gas made up about 21% of global fossil CO2 emissions in 2024, per the same report.

Growing demand for energy continues to counterbalance much of the progress made by major economies investing in renewable energy.

Paris Agreement sets global targets for climate mitigation

The Paris Agreement is an international climate-change treaty signed in 2016.

Adopted in 2015, the agreement sets a global goal to keep warming well below 2 °C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C.

The agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016 and operates through Nationally Determined Contributions that each country must submit and update every five years.

Climate change impacts drive public awareness

Recent floods in Nepal and wildfires across Europe have increased public awareness of the effects of climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that human activities, principally through greenhouse-gas emissions, have unequivocally caused global warming.