More than 50 years ago, global greenhouse gas emissions primarily originated from developed economies. At that time, the United States was the world's largest polluter, with emissions three times higher than China's. Over time, the balance of emissions shifted.

According to independent calculations by scientists from the Joint Research Centre (JRC, part of the European Commission) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), this pivotal shift occurred in the early 2000s, as China and other emerging economies rapidly increased energy and industrial production.

For example, in 2004, China's emissions surpassed those of the United States. India emitted more greenhouse gases than Russia in 2006, and Indonesia joined the top 10 global emitters two years later.

As of 2024, China maintains its position as the world's largest emitter, with 15,5 billion tons of CO2e, nearly three times that of the United States. India, in third position, emitted 4,4 billion tons of CO2e. Greenhouse gas emissions from China and India in 2024 were three and four times higher, respectively, than their 1990 levels (the baseline year in climate reports).

In terms of proportion, China's emissions accounted for 29,2% of total global emissions in 2024, a significant increase from 11,5% half a century ago. China aims to reach peak emissions before 2030 and achieve Net Zero emissions by 2060.

Conversely, since 2022, European Union (EU) countries have progressively exited the list of the top 10 largest emitters. In 2024, the bloc reduced its emissions by nearly 35% compared to 1990 levels.

For instance, France and Monaco, once the 11th largest emitters globally in 1990, now rank 25th due to a 29% reduction in emissions. According to the JRC and IEA methodology, Monaco's emissions are aggregated with France's due to their negligible volume and reliance on the neighboring country.

During the 1970-2024 period, several economies that were once among the top 10 polluters achieved varying rates of emission reduction. Germany cut its emissions by half, the United Kingdom by 56%, and Ukraine even reduced its by nearly 70%.

Globally, greenhouse gas emissions have doubled over half a century, reaching 53,2 billion tons of CO2e, with a continuous upward trend (except for two reductions during the 2009 global financial crisis and Covid-19). This increase primarily stems from the extraction and use of fossil fuels.

The country-specific emission data series, calculated by JRC and IEA in late 2025, will be included in the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) report. The authors' calculations are based on multiple international statistical sources, including the IEA and the World Bank (WB).

National data presents a gap in the global emission reduction roadmap due to differences in reporting processes and methodologies. To ensure measurability, the United Nations requires nearly 200 countries participating in the Paris Climate Agreement to submit biennial transparency reports (BTRs), which include national greenhouse gas inventories and progress on emission reduction commitments, starting in 2024. As of late last year, only 67% of participating parties had implemented this reporting.

Bao Bao (according to JRC, IEA)