The Asia-Pacific region produced 18.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) from energy use in 2023. China's CO₂ emissions are by far the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, at more than 10 GtCO₂ per year. The second most polluting region in 2023 was North America, where 5.9 GtCO₂ were generated, the majority of which came from the U.S.
Global CO₂ emissions growth
Global CO₂ emissions from energy consumption have more than doubled since 1970, and reached a record high in 2023. The rise in emissions is mainly due to rapidly growing economies and increasing energy demand in developing regions. This is especially the case in the Asia-Pacific region, where emissions have almost tripled since the turn of the century. The Middle East has also seen a dramatic rise in emissions, going from producing the lowest CO₂ emissions worldwide in 1965, to the fourth-highest as of 2023.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations
The increased burning of fossil fuels - as well as deforestation and other human activities - has seen atmospheric CO₂ concentrations surge in recent decades. In 2023, global atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ reached a record high of 421.08 parts per million, which is roughly 50 percent higher than before the industrial revolution.
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2023, 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.
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Energy Institute. (June 20, 2024). Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2023, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 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 2023, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. June 20, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute. (2024). Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2023, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Worldwide from 1965 to 2023, by Region (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Jun 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/
Energy Institute, Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2023, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2023, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph], Energy Institute, June 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/205966/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-region/