These countries are the top 10 worst CO2 polluters in the world

The Global Carbon Atlas is a research effort carried by the Global Carbon Project, studying the amount of greenhouse emissions around the planet. Using data as late as 2021, they have managed to reveal which countries are the top ten C02 emitters of the world.

One of the largest economies in Asia, South Korea generates 616 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

According to Reuters, South Korea is one of the most fossil fuel-reliant economies in the world. Despite government policy to reduce emissions, the country's industry has received special breaks in regard to the law.

Indonesia slightly surpasses South Korea with an emission of 619 metric tons of CO2.

The Indonesian government, Reuters writes, promises an ambitious program to cut carbon emissions and transition to green energy. However, critics are skeptical about these policies.

The largest country in the Middle East, with a population of 34 million people, this kingdom is responsible for 672 tons of carbon dioxide.

Image: ekrem osmanoglu / Unsplash

As the largest OPEC exporter, the oil industry has taken its toll on Saudi Arabia, from air quality to oil spills to wasteful energy usage. Other issues that face the Middle-Eastern kingdom are deforestation and desertification.

The Federal Republic of Germany leads the EU nations by being responsible for 675 metric tons of CO2, produced by a population of over 82 million.

Nonetheless, it seems that the concern among the German people about the environment has been growing in the most recent years. The 2021 General Election saw the Green Party become the country’s third political force, with 15% of the votes.

The Islamic Republic of Iran emits, according to the data cited by Investopedia, 749 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Al Jazeera highlights that the Middle Eastern country is one of the few nations not to sign the Paris Agreement and its policy-makers have shown little to no interest to combat climate change.

The Empire of the Rising Sun generates 1067 metric tons of CO2, per the Global Carbon Atlas.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, Japan mainly relies on oil, gas, and coal for energy consumption. Nuclear energy consumption has gone down 10% since the Fukushima Disaster.

Russia is the fourth-biggest CO2 polluter in the world, with 1756 metric tons emitted in 2020.

A study published by Nature reveals that, while the European embargo has reduced the gas emissions generated by EU nations, Russia's emissions have slightly increased.

The South Asian nation of India gets the doubtful honor of third place on this list, producing 2710 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

India is, per data by the US Energy Information Administration, the second-biggest coal consumer in the world.

The Land of the Free generates 15% of all CO2 emissions, as reported by the Global Carbon Project, with every person in the United States being responsible for 15.74 tonnes. Most of it comes from industry, transportation, and electricity generation.

Although the country has cut on coal in the past years, it’s still heavily reliant on crude oil. The United States is the second-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, behind China, with 4,7 billion metric tons of CO2 released in 2019.

The 1,4 billion people that live in the People’s Republic of China generate an average of 7.72 tonnes of CO2, according to the UN report. Data from the Global Carbon Project reveals that this Asian superpower alone is responsible for 24% of all carbon emissions around the globe.

A 2020 study published by The Lancet estimated that 1.24 million people died in China in 2017 as a result of air pollution. The Global Carbon Project reveals that the primary source of CO2 emissions in the country is a fossil fuel, particularly coal.