This page summarises emissions data for a number of countries including those that are featured on the countries display board. All the figures here have been derived from data maintained by Our world in data .
A rating for the action plans for each major country is published by climate action tracker. Ratings go from Critically Insufficient to 1.5C Paris compatible. The only country that is currently compatible is The Gambia.
Australia
For a developed country Australia emits a higher than normal amount of methane, which is probably from coal and other mining activities.
This shows that Australia’s CO2 emissions have changed little since 1990, but overall GHG emissions have due to reductions in methane and nitrous oxide
Australia has suffered wildfires of growing intensity each year, but the National party is against committing to a net zero target, being influenced by the coal lobby, so it is likely that their Liberal coalition partners will draw up a roadmap to net zero, but not commit to a legally binding target by COP26. It is also unclear at present if their Prime Minister will attend COP26.
Climate action tracker rates Australia’s actions as highly insufficient.
United States of America
Historically the USA is responsible for 25.53% of the world’s cumulative CO2 emissions, the largest of any country. President Trump stated his intention to withdraw the USA from the Paris climate change agreement in 2017, this took effect on 4th November 2020, a day after the presidential election, where president Biden was elected.
One of President Biden’s first acts was to rejoin the Paris climate change agreement, since then he has:
- Established a working group to develop low carbon technologies
- Announced a $2 trillion infrastructure to reshape the US economy
- Committed to cooperate with China on climate change
- Pledged to reduce emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030
Reduction to 50% by 2030 cannot be achieved by cleaning up the power sector alone, the transport sector must also decarbonise.
Climate action tracker rates USA’s actions as insufficient.
China
China has expanded fast and now manufactures many things that were previously produced in other countries, so its territorial emissions are higher than consumption. Its emissions have risen since 1990, but recently have started falling. China is by some margin the world’s largest emitter.
President Xi Jinping has said that his country will aim for its emissions to reach their highest point by 2030 and for carbon neutrality to be achieved by 2060.
Climate action tracker rates China’s actions as highly insuffient.
United Kingdom
Recently the UK has reduced its emissions faster than most countries, but some of that is due to the decline of manufacturing, so our emissions from consumption are much higher than territorial.
We are responsible for 4.97% of cumulative CO2.
Climate action tracker rates UK’s actions as almost sufficient. If the UK’s current targets were achieved it would be on a 1.5C trajectory, but there is a large gap between these ambitions and the present level of action.
Vietnam
Vietnam has grown its GHG emissions most of any country since 1990, but its total emissions are still low. In recent years work has shifted from agriculture to manufacturing and services.
Climate action tracker rates Vietnam’s actions as highly insuffient.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is a low lying country which is going to be severely affected by climate change. Historically it is responsible for 0.08% of cumulative CO2 emissions since 1750.
Climate action tracker does not have a rating for Bangladesh.