Global cumulative economic losses through emissions from select countries 1990-2014

The huge volume of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by major polluters have caused considerable economic losses to the rest of world through climate change. These damages are typically felt by poorer countries through severe heatwaves and climate-driven crop failures. From 1990 to 2014, territorial emissions from the United States were responsible for almost two trillion U.S. dollars of economic damage to the rest of the world. The U.S. is the largest historical emitter by far, having released more than 400 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide since 1750.

China, which is currently the largest global emitter, caused the second-highest amount of economic damage through emissions during this period, at 1.83 trillion U.S. dollars. Emissions from the five highest ranked countries were responsible for more than six trillion U.S. dollars in global economic losses.