The United States was the world's biggest contributor to air transportation emissions in 2023. That year, passenger and freight flights in the North American country were responsible for an estimated 215 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂), 67 percent of which came from domestic flights. China and the United Kingdom followed with emissions totaling 96 and 32 MtCO₂, respectively. While domestic emissions were also the largest source of China's aviation emissions that year, international flights made up roughly 95 percent of the UK's emissions. Globally, international flights account for around 60 percent of total air transportation CO₂ emissions.
Carbon dioxide emissions of passenger and freight flights in selected countries worldwide in 2023, by flight type
(in million metric tons)
The database provides measures of CO2 emissions on a residence basis, which is used to estimate the emissions of air transport (H51 in the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, or ISIC) in the Air Emission Accounts (AEAs). The emissions are estimated for 186 countries by the OECD, based on a consistent methodology across countries.
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OECD. (November 1, 2024). Carbon dioxide emissions of passenger and freight flights in selected countries worldwide in 2023, by flight type (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1534874/co2-emissions-domestic-international-flights-by-country/
OECD. "Carbon dioxide emissions of passenger and freight flights in selected countries worldwide in 2023, by flight type (in million metric tons)." Chart. November 1, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1534874/co2-emissions-domestic-international-flights-by-country/
OECD. (2024). Carbon dioxide emissions of passenger and freight flights in selected countries worldwide in 2023, by flight type (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1534874/co2-emissions-domestic-international-flights-by-country/
OECD. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Passenger and Freight Flights in Selected Countries Worldwide in 2023, by Flight Type (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Nov 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1534874/co2-emissions-domestic-international-flights-by-country/
OECD, Carbon dioxide emissions of passenger and freight flights in selected countries worldwide in 2023, by flight type (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1534874/co2-emissions-domestic-international-flights-by-country/ (last visited December 22, 2024)
Carbon dioxide emissions of passenger and freight flights in selected countries worldwide in 2023, by flight type (in million metric tons) [Graph], OECD, November 1, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1534874/co2-emissions-domestic-international-flights-by-country/
