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Countries by Change in Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Name the countries that have increased or decreased their carbon dioxide emissions by the most since 2000.
2000–2021. Source.
In millions of metric tons
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: May 16, 2023
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First submittedJanuary 6, 2017
Times taken43,819
Average score85.0%
Rating4.86
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Gain / Loss
Country
% Change
-1252
United States
-21
-216
United Kingdom
-39
-212
Germany
-24
-171
Ukraine
-48
-168
Japan
-13
-138
Italy
-30
-99
France
-24
-82
Spain
-26
-43
Greece
-45
-33
Venezuela
-24
Gain / Loss
Country
% Change
8762
China
+236
1653
India
+166
358
Iran
+101
321
Saudi Arabia
+121
305
Indonesia
+102
269
Russia
+16
264
Vietnam
+468
223
Turkey
+98
142
South Korea
+29
132
Egypt
+103
+48
Level 69
Jan 7, 2017
Most depressing quiz ever.
+60
Level ∞
Jan 7, 2017
But there is good news too. Nearly every country in the west is using less co2 than before. Britain's carbon dioxide emissions peaked in 1971, and have declined by about 1/3rd since. Adoption of electric vehicles will accelerate the decline.
+23
Level ∞
Jan 7, 2017
Not to mention solar!
+85
Level 47
Jan 8, 2017
Most of the decline in the developed world's carbon emissions can be attributed manufacturing being outsourced to places like China and India, according to the Guardian After you take into account imports, Europe only reduced their carbon footprint by 1% between 1990 and 2008.
+6
Level 49
Apr 18, 2023
relessness: I don't think that's exactly true. If it were, that would mean that the industry in those areas would be decreasing and their economies collapsing. Companies aren't "leaving" the US or Europe so much as just not developing as much there

In addition, blaming a country importing goods for the way the manufacturer made it is just bad faith. The US government has no say over how China or India produce stuff, and therefore shouldn't be blamed for that. The whole argument of "rich countries shifting the blame" is just irrelevant and distracting us from the larger issue at hand of decreasing CO2 everywhere

+1
Level 67
Jun 16, 2023
You're right.
+15
Level 22
Apr 5, 2017
Really that's irrelevant though. All of the decreases combined barely make up for the gain in *India*, let alone China.
+1
Level 54
Jun 19, 2023
exactly! I don't get how others don't understand this. As long as India, China, etc don't change their ways, it doesn't matter what the rest of the world does to combat climate change. Earth's doom is inevitable unless everyone is in on this.
+5
Level 69
Jul 4, 2023
nonsense. The only reason why India and China went upwards so much is because they massively increased production in general and the reason why western countries reduce is because their companies manufacture less and instead buy from asia.

If you really look at the shift towards climate friendly energy you'll quickly see that especially China isn't actually doing that poorly. If you look at the rise of renewable energy in China you'll see it's much bigger than the rise of fossil fuel.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/960418/china-total-production-of-clean-energy/

In the end people blame China and India because they can't read statistics

+1
Level 76
Jul 17, 2023
@AnAngryYordle So true.
+3
Level 81
Aug 10, 2023
The thing missed on China (and I'm not a fan of having to defend China) is that while their emissions have SOARED since 2000, they're investing more than the rest of the world combined into renewable energy. It's not all bad, and most projections have them peaking relatively soon.

But even if that is wrong, consider this: The US still emits about twice as much CO2 per capita as does China. We ALL need to clean up our act. But we're still far worse offenders than they are.

+14
Level 65
Jun 3, 2020
A lack of carbon footprint growth is progress worth celebrating, and the decreases are good on their own despite other growth. Instead of +186% China -14% USA, without steps made it could have been +186% China +56% USA or something.
+36
Level 63
Oct 15, 2020
Nuclear power is clean, abundant, and safe. By far the way to go.
+1
Level 68
Sep 18, 2023
It's neither clean nor safe
+3
Level ∞
Dec 6, 2023
Nuclear is the cleanest and safest form of power available. That includes solar and wind.

Consider the immense amount of mining that needs to happen to build out solar and wind capacity. How many people die working in these mines? How much of the Earth is destroyed for generations to build these mines? How much slave labor is used? How much gasoline is burned in all phases of the process?

And these solar panels and wind turbines have a very short lifespan. They need to be replaced continuously at immense cost. Nuclear is the only way to build a sustainable energy infrastructure which preserves any sort of human thriving.

+8
Level 58
Oct 16, 2020
Definitely, France makes this list for a variety of reasons, but most importantly Nuclear. 75% of France's energy is from Nuclear!
+11
Level 77
Jan 2, 2021
Yes yes yes YES! I have been making this point to classmates for years... France produces so much cheap energy, in fact, that it garners millions every year by selling electricity to other countries because it has more than enough!
+5
Level 66
Sep 11, 2022
ev's are kinda bad tbh we should just cut back on car usage overall and use public transport more
+5
Level 66
Dec 30, 2022
Yeah, does nobody understand that in many countries, the USA specifically, buying electric cars doesn't really matter, because their electricity comes from other fossil fuels at power plants? Not to mention how resource-intensive they are to build and wasteful they can be at this point in time.
+14
Level 80
Jan 8, 2017
What's so bad about C02? It's plant food for Christ's sake!
+4
Level 28
Jan 8, 2017
exactly!
+30
Level ∞
Apr 3, 2017
It's got what plants crave!
+11
Level 78
Apr 3, 2017
It's got electrolytes!
+3
Level 56
Apr 3, 2017
Actually, without any carbon dioxide warming the Earth, the planet would largely be too cold for people to live on.
+39
Level 56
Apr 5, 2017
Oxygen is also good, but too much of it can kill you.

The effects of excess CO2 (climate change, sea level rise, coral bleaching, ice melt etc etc etc) and so well linked and demonstrated that I can't believe we're still having this debate.

+1
Level 76
Jul 17, 2023
And I can't believe how you didn't realize OP was joking.
+8
Level 61
Oct 22, 2017
cuz too much of it will depress the ozone and make it go away to therapy on another planet.
+1
Level 74
Jan 2, 2021
Without CO2 the earth would have an average temperature of -16°C. We had to calculate that in Physics.
+2
Level 77
Jan 2, 2021
Without greenhouse gases (not only co2) the earth would be -18 C. However, it’s worth remembering that water vapor is an even better greenhouse gas than CO2, which makes the role of CO2 all the more important: by introducing a small increase of co2 to warm the air slightly, that warmer air can now hold more water vapor without condensing into clouds, priming the atmosphere for more dramatic warming.
+1
Level 60
Jul 23, 2022
Yes but we cut down too many plants for all the co2, and then it just rises into the atmosphere.
+2
Level 83
Dec 31, 2022
Ask Venus
+8
Level 65
Jan 7, 2017
Asia gain, Europe reduce. Nice to see we reduced by nearly 10 percent!
+37
Level 80
Jan 8, 2017
Yes, but you lose while other parts of the world gain in emissions. That's why all of these climate change laws make no sense. Outsourcing companies to countries that can't handle environmental protection as well as us just so we don't feel guilty is stupid.
+1
Level 50
Jan 2, 2021
That's why the idea of making an international law of ecocide is so important. https://www.stopecocide.earth/
+8
Level ∞
Jan 2, 2021
@CaoMaru. There are better ways to solve the crisis. I'd be very hesitant to give our current set of elites even more power. But let's compromise. Let's reduce emissions by exiling anyone who has ever flown on a private jet. We'll put them all onto a small island in the Pacific, where they can exist on subsistence farming, preventing them from doing even more damage than they've already done.

And if they used the jet to fly to a global warming conference, let's make sure the island is extra small.

+1
Level 50
Jan 3, 2021
Interesting article, and a great idea. I do think certain laws (such as ecocide) are important alongside that, but.......I'm definitely right behind the idea of exile.
+5
Level 71
Jan 14, 2019
Before: Europe produce, Europe gain

Now: Asia produce, Europe and Asia gain

+2
Level 71
Jan 8, 2017
The patient is smiling even though he's dying. Well that's some relief.
+2
Level 58
Jan 8, 2017
ahh! I missed only Kazakhstan
+5
Level 87
Oct 14, 2020
So we can compliment the folks in Ast... er, I mean, Nur-Sultan.
+2
Level 68
May 17, 2023
You mean Astana
+2
Level 55
Jan 8, 2017
Nice to see we're doing SOMETHING right.
+18
Level 67
Jan 9, 2017
No we don't. This should really be corrected by imported and exported CO2. And include CO2 generated by the transport on international trading routes. I don't think it does that.
+10
Level 78
Apr 3, 2017
Exactly. The West has not reduced its consumption of CO2. It just has outsourced its production abroad. Which is utterly stupid, because we are still living in the same planet.
+21
Level ∞
Apr 3, 2017
The West definitely has reduced its consumption per capita at the very least. Improvements in fuel efficiency standards for cars and insulation for buildings have made a difference. Its not enough obviously, but lets not pretend that no progress has been made. And with the coming solar revolution, I think its possible that things will continue to improve, certain politicians non-withstanding.
+6
Level 22
Apr 5, 2017
Yes the West is screwing itself over economically by trying to reduce its carbon emissions, meanwhile none of the developing countries care.
+2
Level 62
May 28, 2023
Renewables are the future of energy generation. Investing in them is investing in the future, not "screwing [themselves] over economically."
+1
Level 56
Oct 30, 2023
China has the largest investment in renewable energies and has been making progress in shifting towards green energy
+3
Level 85
Jan 31, 2017
Can't believe I got them all
+1
Level 39
Jan 20, 2019
Haha, me too. Got Greece with only 22 seconds remained.
+1
Level 43
Jan 2, 2021
Same, lol. with 1:30 to spare
+1
Level 79
Jan 2, 2021
I got all but one of them pretty quickly. North Korea took the most time (thought they didn't have data).
+11
Level 76
Apr 3, 2017
And people still claim that China is leading the world in combating climate change
+1
Level 57
Apr 3, 2017
Remember this is a 13 year period i.e. much of it is history before climate change was viewed so significantly, and before Paris Accords, etc.
+3
Level 56
Oct 30, 2023
Because it is true. The global north has outsourced its manufacturing to the global south. This is why there is an increase in China's emissions.

China has less than half the per capita emissions of the US(same source as the quiz). It has invested the highest into green, renewable energies.

It leads the world in rates of afforestation.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-where-afforestation-is-taking-place-around-the-world/

+7
Level 65
Apr 3, 2017
Wealthy countries in the west are just outsourcing their industrial pollution to emerging countries, where they use the dirtiest energy on the planet. See it go down in the U.S. and Germany while China and India skyrockets, where they actually make all that green tech along with the rest of everything else we purchase and use. It IS a depressing quiz and there is no "good news" here.
+19
Level ∞
Apr 4, 2017
The US is manufacturing more than ever, and doing so with far less carbon output than before. Let's not be defeatist and refuse to acknowledge the very real progress that has been made.
+2
Level 22
Apr 5, 2017
Nah we're screwing ourselves over by falling for the stupid carbon reduction meme. None of the other countries care, they will trample all over us.
+23
Level ∞
Nov 3, 2018
@sensfan123. Defeatism is for losers. We can grow our economy and reduce our carbon use at the same time. In fact, we already are!
+1
Level 62
May 28, 2023
I like you, Quizmaster. You're cool.
+5
Level 64
Nov 9, 2018
I always think my level is good until I see people in the comments
+1
Level 66
Jan 4, 2019
Sad quiz indeed... (and getting 17/20 only beats 30% wow)
+7
Level 69
Jan 20, 2019
It disappointed me to find that Australia, my home country, wasn't on this list. Then, I checked the source only to find that we'd risen, among the kinds of China and Iran - and this broke my heart.
+1
Level 75
Jan 20, 2019
Aside from the vast majority of its people being good, is Saudi Arabia an evil country?
+23
Level 66
Jan 20, 2019
Well not that this has much to do with its CO2 emissions but yes, of course it is. A place which in the modern world still so severely restricts the liberty of half its population (women), and assassinates those who speak out against their archaic regime (Khashoggi for example) is certainly evil in my mind.
+1
Level 57
Jan 20, 2019
Great Quiz, like it!
+2
Level 63
May 11, 2019
In Ukraine even more, almost like in the USA

Cince 1990 emissions dropped 4 times

+1
Level 44
Jul 29, 2019
its too late to stop, It is now time to plan for the consequences.
+21
Level ∞
May 12, 2020
Wrong. Global warming exists on a a continuum. The more CO2 that gets pumped into the atmosphere, the worse things will be. Even if we can't completely prevent it, it is worthwhile to try to stop the worst-case scenarios.

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

+1
Level 56
May 1, 2020
I want to see one by percentage.
+2
Level 67
May 12, 2020
Interesting figures. To put it into perspective, a look at emission per capita is helpful.

"The biggest absolute emissions come from China and the United States. In terms of CO2 emissions per capita, China is ranked only ranked 47th, at 7.5 metric tonnes per capita. The US is ranked 11th at 16.5 per capita and amongst countries with sizeable populations, has the highest CO2 emissions per capita. India is the third highest country in terms of absolute emissions, but only 158th in terms of per capita output with 1.7 metric tonnes per capita."

https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/10296/economics/top-co2-polluters-highest-per-capita/

So thinking about China or India, right now still pretty low in the per-capita-ranks, continuing their speedy economic growth, is kind of worrying. On the other hand, looking at the US as the worst polluter per capita and comparing them to the likes of UK, there is huge room for improvement.

+2
Level ∞
May 12, 2020
Here's a per-capita quiz. The U.S. uses a lot. Unfortunately, since China's population is so much larger, even if the U.S. went to zero, it wouldn't be enough to fix the problem. Since China is unlikely to seriously care about global warming, there is only one way out of this crisis. Develop technology that actively removes CO2 from the atmosphere. If the west cuts emissions by 5% or 25%, or even 100%, it simply isn't enough.
+1
Level 74
Oct 14, 2020
Which of course doesn't mean, that it is not important for the west to cut CO2 as much as possible. Even if it is just buying time.
+2
Level 71
Jan 2, 2021
I actually wouldn't be that pessimistic about China considering that they've recently a goal to reach net zero by 2060 (although of course this is a recent development and Jenenser and Quizmaster didn't know about it at the time).

I'm not completely optimistic about the outlook right now, but I'm becoming more hopeful for what the coming decade can accomplish. It seems that developed and developing countries alike are becoming serious about capping CO2 emissions and investing in clean energy. Also, as terrible as the pandemic is, it's cast a spotlight on how governments can use science and data to respond to global crises, and the coming economic recovery will probably go hand in hand with restructuring national economies so that they can use more clean energy. The election of Joe Biden will also probably help, considering he's pledged very serious action on climate change.

+2
Level 62
May 12, 2020
Quite odd to see South Korea as only western country on the left side of the list
+6
Level 87
Aug 20, 2020
I don't think you understand what "Western" means
+7
Level 71
Aug 26, 2020
They probably meant 1st world..
+4
Level 74
Oct 17, 2020
Culturally western. Same as Australia or New Zealand.
+2
Level 76
Oct 19, 2020
Maybe he lives in Japan. It's like a Scot calling somebody from Newcastle a Southerner.
+2
Level 62
Jan 2, 2021
South Koreans don't really put environment high on a list of priorities, especially in politics. It's always economy and jobs. The government also blames China for most of their environmental problems, especially air pollution, which while is partly true, helps people to falsely think their country has no blame and little recourse, thus postponing attempts to seriously improve things.
+6
Level 82
Oct 14, 2020
Turns out starving your people does wonders for the carbon footprint, more progress from North Korea's glorious leader.
+9
Level 76
Oct 19, 2020
Yet again, North Korea proves to be the Best Korea.
+6
Level 69
Jan 2, 2021
Lol. Perhaps her parents are making that Swedish girl yell at the wrong crowd.
+7
Level 50
Jan 2, 2021
Come back and complain about others when you are doing something yourself. Until then, don't complain.
+2
Level 76
Jan 2, 2021
After trying a number of countries, I just started going with larger ones (both by area and population), which is what almost every answer ended up being.
+2
Level 71
Jan 2, 2021
It's nice seeing that the US has decreased emissions by a significant amount. I feel like climate news tends to blame America for everything... and while it's certainly true America could probably be doing more, a 20% decrease is better than I expected. And on the other hand, I've heard that Germany was a leader in clean energy, and yet they are in roughly the same place as the US percentage-wise.

And as I said above, the Biden administration will take serious action on this (especially if Democrats control the Senate), so there's good reason to except CO2 emissions to decrease even more in the coming years.

+1
Level 53
Jan 2, 2021
Damn, missed Iran and South Africa.
+1
Level 57
Jan 2, 2021
Why did north korea go down? I assume it has something to do with their lack of manufacturing power and no trade and cars, stuff like that
+9
Level 59
Jan 3, 2021
Round of applause to North Korea lol
+7
Level 61
Jan 4, 2021
North Korea is a friend of the earth
+2
Level 79
Jan 8, 2021
yes very much
+9
Level 64
Jan 5, 2021
North Korea: Good

South Korea: Bad?

Hold up

+3
Level 80
May 16, 2023
Well now its

Venezuela: Good

South Korea: Bad

However, I do believe Venezuela's decreases may not be for the right reasons.

+2
Level 54
Jun 19, 2023
The country is extracting and refining less oil than ever since the early years of oil exploitation, so the decrease is logical, however we are seeing an unprecedented amount of oil spills, fires and gas leaks, far more than when the country produced 6 times what it produces now, add to that massive deforestation in national parks do to state sponsored mining activities, and yes, it is all for the wrong reasons. All the pollution without even the excuse of development/economy.
+5
Level 66
May 16, 2023
Most of Europe's cuts has been moving their industry outside of their own territories. Like the United Kingdom might have cut their carbon emission by 39% since year 2000, but if you count everything that the United Kingdom imports and consumes, they've realistically only cut about 0.7%.

With our current economic system, capitalism, it is impossible to fight climate change and have economic growth at the same time. As to have economic growth, you need to sell more stuff, and it's the production of all that stuff that is pushing humanity to it's extinction.

+2
Level 66
May 21, 2023
Only the system of capitalism can change the industry from fossil to eco friendly fuels. We can chose what we buy and if we buy the products that do not come from places that use fossil fuels than it will be solved.
+1
Level 56
Oct 30, 2023
The primary motive of industries in Capitalism is to expand and maximize profit. We cannot transition to renewables cannot be done as fossil fuels are far more profitable than alternative renewable energies.

ExxonMobil's private research 50 years ago predicted climate change and we never knew because there are billions to be made from selling fossil fuels.

The answer to this issue is the transition from capitalism to a system where people's interests are prioritized rather than private capital. Some (myself included) believe that the answer is socialism.

+2
Level 76
May 16, 2023
is there a per-capita version of this? i can't seem to find one. and if there is, maybe it could be linked in the notes?
+1
Level 88
May 18, 2023
Yes, the Quizmaster linked to this featured quiz elsewhere in the comments.
+1
Level 77
May 25, 2023
Hard not to feel defeatist about all this. When Konstantin Kisin gave his now viral speech at Oxford, his suggestion that poor nations will be the ones deciding what happens with the climate seems to be steeped in truth. China + India alone is responsible for 4x more carbon gains than all of the top 10 nations lost combined. They have 0 incentive to care about the environment. None at all. Not saying that we shouldn't care in the West, but i'm also saying that maybe we shouldn't completely wreck our collective economies to do the equivalent of emptying a bucket of water from the Titanic.
+4
Level 55
Jun 16, 2023
You do realise that the main reason why India+China is so high up is that they account for such a high percentage of the world's population right? And being an Indian, I can tell you that the government is making steps towards going green. We've opened up several large solar farms in the past 3-4 years and wind energy is starting to become quite high.

As many people have mentioned before, the West isn't really doing as much, because they're outsourcing production to Asia. And I personally find it very funny how some people blame India for it's carbon footprint, when for 200 years until 1947, the West exploited India if all of its resources and prevented it from developing in any way possible, and then when we finally have some economic development (which also helps the West, because we produce your stuff), we get blamed for killing the planet. I agree that India and other countries should be doing more, but you sitting on a high horse and judging India is a bit embarassing for you.

+2
Level 65
Jun 16, 2023
I guess having the economy crippled by war (Ukraine) or crashed by incompetence (Venezuela) is effective...
+2
Level 52
Jun 16, 2023
Deindustrialization in Ukraine and Venezuela must have been heavy.

As for the countries in the increase category, I can't fault them for pursuing some economic growth.

+2
Level 48
Jun 17, 2023
1) Venezuela, Greece and Ukraine are pretty hardcore. Definitely not the same reason as the other developed countries.

2) I am very surprised to NOT see Philippines, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the list of increases.

3) South Korea actually being there for increases surprises me too.

+1
Level 54
Jun 19, 2023
Everyone on here saying the east is so bad because the west outsources??? That may be a part of it but how can anyone deny that the biggest issue in 3rd world countries (like India) is the fact they couldn't care less about C02 emissions so they will continue to dump their trash in the rivers and will continue to not recycle, not to mention all the coal they burn in the east, etc. But yeah... it's totally because we outsource production... smh. Just admit that the west is helping way more than the rest of the world when it comes to saving the planet.
+3
Level 55
Jun 22, 2023
No one thinks that the West isn't doing anything. It definitely is helping, no questioning it. But criticizing the East for finally being able to get some economic development and set up a functioning society and economy is a very ignorant thing to do. Like I mentioned in another comment, I can speak for India when I say that we are doing our best to produce cleaner energy. But enough of this blaming the east and saying "oH thE ThiRd WorLD CounTRIes thAT wE ExploiTEd anD cOloNisEd aRe ruInINg tHe plAnEt." We were unable to do anything by ourselves until the 1950s. Until 2000, we were one of the poorest and worst countries. Past is past, I agree, no point in dwelling in it. But that doesn't mean that the West isn't responsible for it. I hope you understand where I am coming from, because I have seen a few comments with people saying "Oh if the poor countries are not going to help, then we shouldn't either." It's a very misinformed and condescending thing to say, since it's not true
+2
Level 55
Jun 22, 2023
TL;DR

We're trying our best here too, so don't make stupid comments about pursuing economic development over being sustainable when it isn't our fault (technically your ancestor's fault but hey, I'm not blaming anyone for that, and past is past) that we aren't as developed as the West. (Plus don't forget to factor in populations)

+2
Level 55
Jun 22, 2023
Btw, many Indian cities have been segregating waste for the past 2 years.
+5
Level 69
Jun 21, 2023
How about having a featured quiz with the cummulative historic emissions and see how that goes for the little group on the left