The Asia-Pacific region produced 17.96 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. This was more than the combined total emissions of all other regions that year. China alone accounted for nearly 60 percent of Asia-Pacific CO₂ emissions, and 31 percent of the global total. The second most polluting region in 2022 was North America, where 5.9 billion metric tons of CO₂ were emitted. Emissions in North America and the Asia-Pacific region increased by around two percent in 2022 when compared to 2021 levels.
COVID-19 caused emissions reductions
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in strict lockdowns and restrictions being imposed in a bid to slow the spread of the virus. This caused dramatic emission reductions worldwide, as travel and industrial activities were disrupted. Some of the most significant reductions occurred in early 2020, when many of the first lockdowns were introduced. In April 2020, global energy-related CO₂ emissions fell more than 14 percent when compared to the same month the previous year.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations
Although annual emissions fell substantially as a result of COVID-19, global atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ reached a record high in 2020, averaging more than 414 parts per million. The increased burning of fossil fuels - as well as deforestation and other human activities - has seen atmospheric CO₂ levels increase massively in recent decades. CO₂ is the primary contributor to climate change.
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
The carbon emissions in this statistic reflect only those through consumption of oil, gas and coal for combustion related activities, and are based on "Default CO₂ Emissions Factors for Combustion" listed by the IPCC in its Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006). This does not allow for any carbon that is sequestered, for other sources of carbon emissions, or for emissions of other greenhouse gases. This data is therefore not comparable to official national emissions data.
From 1965 to 1984, CIS figures comprised the USSR, which included CIS countries, in addition to Georgia, Ukraine and the Baltic States.
Figures have been rounded.
This statistic was compiled using several releases of the publication.
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Energy Institute. (June 26, 2023). Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute. "Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. June 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute. (2023). Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by Region (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute, Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/ (last visited July 21, 2024)
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph], Energy Institute, June 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/