The biggest global worry about climate change right now is reducing carbon emissions. The top three countries working hard on this are China, the United States, and India. Many countries around the world are trying to help with this problem.

Here’s a look at the biggest carbon emitters in 2023, showing how much carbon dioxide (CO₂) they release each year in million tonnes (MtCO₂):

1. China: China produces 30% of the world’s CO₂ because it uses a lot of coal for energy. Its current emissions are 12,400 million tonnes. China is now investing in solar and wind power and wants to have zero net carbon emissions by 2060. Most of its energy comes from coal (55%), oil (20%), and gas (10%).

2. United States: The US is responsible for 14% of global emissions, producing 5,100 million tonnes of CO₂ each year. It is moving towards using more natural gas and renewable energy, but progress depends on political decisions. Its energy mainly comes from oil (45%), gas (33%), and coal (12%).

3. India: India produces 7% of global emissions, releasing 3,400 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. It relies mostly on coal (70%) and oil (25%) but is working to use more renewable energy and aims for net-zero emissions by 2070.

4. Russia: Russia produces 5% of global emissions and focuses on exporting natural gas but is slower in adopting renewable energy.

5. Japan: Japan accounts for 3% of emissions and is promoting nuclear power and hydrogen technology to cut carbon emissions.

Effect on climate 

Climate change is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise by 1.2°C since the pre-industrial era. This leads to more floods, droughts, storms, and rising sea levels, threatening coastal cities like those in Bangladesh and the Maldives. It also harms ecosystems and reduces biodiversity.

To cut carbon emissions, countries are using more renewable energy like solar and wind, adding carbon taxes, promoting electric vehicles (like in Norway), and making buildings and industries more energy-efficient.

In 2023, the highest carbon emissions per person were in Saudi Arabia (18 tonnes), the USA (15), Russia (12), Germany (9), China (8.5), and India had the lowest among them at 2.4 tonnes per person.

Major source of emission

Different countries have different main sources of carbon emissions. In China and India, most emissions come from power generation using coal, along with industries and construction. In the USA and Europe, transport using oil and energy used in homes are the major contributors. Meanwhile, in Russia and Saudi Arabia, a large part of emissions comes from extracting and exporting fossil fuels like oil and gas.

Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to global warming. The main types include carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is released by burning fossil fuels like coal, petrol, and diesel; methane (CH₄), which comes from farming, raising animals, and landfills; nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is released from fertilisers and factory processes; and fluorinated gases used in refrigeration and industry. These gases together create the greenhouse effect, making the planet warmer over time.