In recent years, the consequences have become more serious and visible. Almost every we experience the terrifying side effects of climate change. We've had more heat waves, the most glaciers melting, and the lowest amount of ice ever recorded in the North Pole. Of the last 22 years, 20 have been the hottest on record.
source: berkeleyearth.org
The only way to limit this rapid climate change is to decrease our collective commission quickly. Although all countries agree on this goal in principle, they did not agree who is responsible or who should bear the heaviest load. The developed countries point at their own effeorts to reduce emissions and the fact that the large developing countries on the rise, especially China are currently releasing much more CO2. On the other hand, developing countries argue that emissions by the West are lifestyle emissions, while for developing countries, they are survival emissions. Other call rich countries hypocrite that got rich by polluting without restraint and now expect others not to industrialize and stay poor
So who is responsible for climate change and CO2 emissions and regardless of the past, who needs to do the most today?
Which Countries emit the most Carbon Dioxide today?
In 2017, humans emitted about 36 billion tonnes of CO2. More than 50% came from Asia, North America and Europe followed with 18% and 17% respectively. While Africa, South America and Oceania together only contributed eight percent. China is by far the world's largest emitter with 10 billion tonnes of CO2 every year or 27% of global emissions. It's followed by the USA with 15% and the European Union with around 10%. Together, this is more than half of the world CO2 emissions.
source : VisualCapitalist
It's clear that without the willingness and action of these three industrial titans, humanity will not be able to become carbon neutral and prevent severe climate change. Next is India at seven percent, Russia at five percent, Japan at three percent and Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Canada are just short two percent. Together with the first three, the top 10 are responsible for 75% of global emissions. But if we only look at the current situation, we won't see the full picture.
Which Countries emitted the most in total?
source : Earth-policy.org
If we look at emissions through history until today, the outlook changes drastically. The US and EU both emit more than China, knocking it off the top spot. The US is responsible for 25% of the world's historical emissions emitting 290 billion tonnes, mostly in the 20th century. In the 2nd place is the EU at 22% and China comes in third with around 13%(half of the US contribution). India's contribution shrinks to three percent along with the whole of Africa and South America. The UK is responsible for one percent of annual global emissions but take five percent of the historical responsibility. Germany producing two percent of emissions per year today, has contributed almost six percent. This is as much as the whole Africa and South America combined.
Which Countries Emit The Most CO2 per Person?
If a country has more people in general, its emissions are of course higher. Things look very different if we look at individuals.
source: Statista
The average human is responsible for around five tons of CO2 each year, but averages can be misleading. The countries with the largest CO2 emissions per person are some of the world's major oil and gas producers. In 2017, Qatar had the highest emissions at a hefty 49 tonnes per person, followed by Trinidad and Tobago, Kuwait, the UAE, Brunei, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia but those are outliers. Australians have one of the highest carbon footprints person: 17 tonnes a year. That's more than triple the global average and slightly more than the average US American and Canadian at 16 tonnes. Germans do a little better, close at 10 tonnes, but still twice the global average. China may be the world's largest emitter but it is also the world's most populous country with over 1.4 billion people. 18.5% of the world's population. Per person its above average at seven tonnes.
Historically, CO2 emissions have been closely tied to a high standard of living. Wealth is one of the strongest indicators of our carbon footprint because as we move from poor to rich we gain access to electricity, heating, air conditioning,lighting, modern cooking, transportation, internet and computers. The enormous rise of China's CO2 emissions is coupled with the greatest reduction of poverty in history. If we order CO2 emissions by income, we see that the richest half of countries are responsible for 86% for global emissions and the bottom half for only 14%.
Nonetheless, climate change is a global problem, and no country alone can fix it. Working out who's responsible is not as simple as it seems, and in a way, its a daft question but one that has plagued international politics for decades. In the end, it's pretty simple. Everybody needs to do the best they can, and right now we are all not doing that. But we can begin today.
The video below is uploaded by Our Changing Climate on YouTube on how you can personally take action against climate change.
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