1. China
China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide gas globally, with 10.06 billion metric tons in 2018.2 The primary source of CO2 emissions in China is fossil fuels, notably coal burning. About 58% of the total energy derived in China comes from coal alone, and since coal is rich in carbon, burning it in China's power and industrial plants and boilers releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Also, China is one of the largest importers of oil, which contributes to large CO2 emissions through the country's use of motor vehicles.5 China plans to reduce its dependence on coal and decrease overall pollution in large cities in the future by generating more electricity using nuclear, renewable energy sources, and natural gas.
2. The United States
The U.S. is the second-largest emitter of CO2, with approximately 5.41 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2018.2 The largest sources of CO2 emissions in the U.S. come from power generation, transportation, and industry.7 Even though the U.S. government undertook significant efforts to reduce the reliance on coal for electricity generation, the country has become a major producer of crude oil.
Also, the U.S. economy is heavily reliant on the transportation sector, which burns petroleum for trucks, ships, trains, and planes.1011 U.S. consumers especially depend on their cars as their primary means of transportation, contributing to the CO2 footprint through gasoline and diesel.
Another large contributor to CO2 emissions in the U.S. is industry, which burns fossil fuels for energy. Also, the U.S. chemical sector uses various chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials, which emit CO2.
The U.S. was the largest CO2 producer until China took over the top spot in 2006.
3. India
India is the third-largest emitter of CO2 globally; it produced about 2.65 billion metric tons of CO2 in 2018.2 As the Indian economy set out on a path toward urbanization and industrialization, the consumption of solid fuels, such as coal, skyrocketed.
Coal as a source of electricity in India has risen from 68% in 1992 to 75% in 2015.14 Coal mines are abundant in India, and coal is generally cheaper than imported oil and gas.1516 Given these trends, the Indian economy is likely to increase its reliance on coal as the main energy source for electricity generation and to power its heavy industry. India's CO2 footprint is bound to go up in the future.
4. The Russian Federation
Russia is the fourth largest contributor to CO2 emissions globally, with 1.71 billion metric tons in 2018.2 Russia has one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world, and natural gas is the primary source of energy and power generation in the country.1718 Coal, which is widely used in chemical and other basic material industries and for power generation in Russia, is also a major contributor to Russia's CO2 emissions.1920
5. Japan
Japan is the fifth-largest emitter of CO2 worldwide, producing 1.16 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018.2 Japan is heavily reliant on burning natural gas and coal to generate electricity for its population and various industries. After the nuclear reactors in Fukushima were shut down in 2011, dependence on fossil fuels increased even more.21 As Japan reopens its nuclear power plants, its CO2 footprint may stabilize in the future.
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