| http://www.peakoil.org.au/news/index.php?/emissions.htm |
by Dave Kimble at www.peakoil.org.au
BP Statistical Review of World Energy (2011) produces data on the amount of emissions by countries from fossil fuels.
This is derived by taking the consumption of oil, gas and coal, and applying their respective average Carbon content.
It does NOT include CO2 derived in other ways, CO2 stored, or other greenhouse gases.
Country's populations (~2010) are taken from Wikipedia .
This is a list of the top 20 emitters from fossil fuels.
Note that the world average is 4.75 tonnes of CO2 per person per year.
| CO2 emissions from fossil fuels only in 2010 | |||
| Country | |||
| Total World | 33158.4 | 6,980,300,000 | 4.75 |
| China | 8332.5 | 1,339,724,852 | 6.22 |
| US | 6144.9 | 312,748,000 | 19.65 |
| India | 1707.5 | 1,210,193,422 | 1.41 |
| Russian Federation | 1700.2 | 142,914,136 | 11.90 |
| Japan | 1308.4 | 127,720,000 | 10.24 |
| Germany | 828.2 | 81,729,000 | 10.13 |
| South Korea | 715.8 | 48,219,000 | 14.84 |
| Canada | 605.1 | 34,482,779 | 17.55 |
| Saudi Arabia | 562.5 | 27,136,977 | 20.73 |
| Iran | 557.7 | 75,901,000 | 7.35 |
| United Kingdom | 547.9 | 62,300,000 | 8.79 |
| Brazil | 464.0 | 190,755,799 | 2.43 |
| Mexico | 447.0 | 112,336,538 | 3.98 |
| Italy | 439.4 | 60,705,991 | 7.24 |
| South Africa | 437.2 | 50,586,757 | 8.64 |
| Indonesia | 424.1 | 237,641,326 | 1.78 |
| France | 403.1 | 65,027,000 | 6.20 |
| Australia | 366.8 | 22,786,570 | 16.10 |
| Spain | 334.2 | 46,162,024 | 7.24 |
| Taiwan | 331.0 | 23,197,947 | 14.27 |
Some small countries might have higher per capita emissions, but are not big emitters.
So here is the same thing again, sorted on "emissions per capita"
| CO2 emissions from fossil fuels only in 2010 | |||
| Country | Mt(CO2) | Population | t(CO2)/capita |
| Saudi Arabia | 562.5 | 27,136,977 | 20.73 |
| US | 6144.9 | 312,748,000 | 19.65 |
| Canada | 605.1 | 34,482,779 | 17.55 |
| Australia | 366.8 | 22,786,570 | 16.10 |
| South Korea | 715.8 | 48,219,000 | 14.84 |
| Taiwan | 331.0 | 23,197,947 | 14.27 |
| Russian Federation | 1700.2 | 142,914,136 | 11.90 |
| Japan | 1308.4 | 127,720,000 | 10.24 |
| Germany | 828.2 | 81,729,000 | 10.13 |
| United Kingdom | 547.9 | 62,300,000 | 8.79 |
| South Africa | 437.2 | 50,586,757 | 8.64 |
| Iran | 557.7 | 75,901,000 | 7.35 |
| Spain | 334.2 | 46,162,024 | 7.24 |
| Italy | 439.4 | 60,705,991 | 7.24 |
| China | 8332.5 | 1,339,724,852 | 6.22 |
| France | 403.1 | 65,027,000 | 6.20 |
| Total World | 33158.4 | 6,980,300,000 | 4.75 |
| Mexico | 447.0 | 112,336,538 | 3.98 |
| Brazil | 464.0 | 190,755,799 | 2.43 |
| Indonesia | 424.1 | 237,641,326 | 1.78 |
| India | 1707.5 | 1,210,193,422 | 1.41 |
Note that China is #1 in emissions, but #15 in emissions per capita.
Likewise, India is #3 in emissions, but #20 in emissions per capita, and less than a third of the world average.
While Australia is #18 in emissions, but #4 in emissions per capita.
So when you hear western journalists calling China, US and India "the big polluters",
just remember that eastern journalists call Saudi, US, Canada and Australia "the big polluters".
China has a target of 15% renewables by 2020, although the total target is not stated.
As the EU shares a lot of electricity, the figures for individual countries are a bit misleading.
If the EU was one country, its emissions in 2010 would be 4,142 Mt(CO2)(#3) and emissions per capita 8.27 t(CO2) (#12).
Another way of looking at it is with a chart of the six biggest polluters over 1965 – 2010.
China would quite rightly argue that the US has caused most of the greenhouse problem with its cumulative emissions over many years.
And this is how well the world has done as a whole.
In other words we're stuffed unless the fossil fuels run out a lot sooner than the authorities think, or unless Peak Oil decline brings on a sudden collapse. This would be bad for humanity, but good for the planet.
Dave Kimble