Have you ever gone for a walk to breathe in some fresh air, only to find your lungs and nose clogged by the stench of pollution? I have, and it's concerning.
In this article, we will explore the origins of climate change, the challenges in curbing pollution, and identify the most polluting nations. (Note that this article is part of a series, and in this post, I will primarily focus on the most polluting nations.)
Since the industrial revolution, humanity has released over 1.5 trillion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, and these numbers continue to increase exponentially as the world population grows. This is without even considering other greenhouse gases like Methane and Nitrous Oxide. All this pollution is causing significant changes in Earth's ecosystems. Each year, we witness an increasing number of "natural" disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, droughts, intense rainfall, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and disrupted seasons.
So, what can we do about it?
All countries around the world agree that they should decrease global emissions to sustain life on this planet, but they often agree only in principle. There is a lot of debate about which countries should bear the heaviest responsibility. Developed countries argue that they are investing in clean energy, while developing countries like China release the most CO2. In contrast, developing countries argue that emissions from the West are "lifestyle" emissions, whereas theirs are "survival" emissions. Some even call rich countries hypocrites, suggesting they became wealthy through pollution and now expect others not to industrialize and remain poor.Which countries emit the most CO2 today?
In 2017, humans emitted around 36 billion tons of CO2, with more than 50% coming from Asia, 18% from North America, 17% from Europe, and only 8% from Africa, South America, and Oceania combined. The remaining 4% was emitted by general shipping and aviation.
But let's take a look at yearly emissions: China accounts for 27% of global emissions, the USA for 15%, and the EU for 10%. Together, these countries contribute to more than 50% of global emissions per year. Hence, these three countries must take significant actions to prevent severe climate change.
But what about total emissions?
If we look at cumulative emissions, China has emitted significantly less compared to the USA and the EU. The USA is responsible for around 25%, with a total of 422 billion tons of CO2 released into the air, while Europe accounts for 17%, and China stands at just under 13% (almost half of the USA).
Discussing whole countries doesn't reveal the full picture. It blends total emissions with population, but considering it for a moment, we understand that a country with a larger population will pollute more.
Which countries emit the most CO2 per person?
The global average of emissions per person is 5 tons, but averages don't provide the whole story. For example, Australia emits 17 tons per person (almost three times the global average), the USA emits 16 tons, and Germany emits 10 tons. Even though China is the world's largest emitter, it is also the most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people (almost 19% of the world's population), producing 7 tons per person.
So, who should take responsibility?
Even if we search for a single country to blame, we may never reach a conclusion. Developed countries became prosperous partly by polluting, while developing countries are trying to catch up, and we can't afford more pollution.
If we don't want developing countries to become as fossil fuel-dependent as developed ones, we need to make low-carbon technology cheap and readily available. This is a task that developed countries, being wealthier and having more educated workforces, should take the lead on.
Thank you for reading! If you want to learn more, check out Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell on YouTube. I drew inspiration for this post mostly from this video: https://youtu.be/ipVxxxqwBQw (be sure to check it out!)
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