Global overview of GHG emissions

Breakdown of total GHG emissions (including LULUCF*) in 2019

* See glossary.
Note: distribution calculated according to the GWP of each gas over 100 years. CO2 : carbon dioxide; N2O : nitrous oxide; CH4 : methane.
Source: according to IPCC, 3rd working group, 2022

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is used to calculate, in t CO2 eq, the impact of the emissions of each gas on the greenhouse effect (see glossary). The GWP of a gas depends on the period over which it is calculated (see page 19). For example, the GWP of methane is 28 to 30 when calculated over 100 years, and 84 when calculated over 20 years. With the 100-year GWP (the most commonly used), CO2 constitutes three quarters of the GHGs emitted in 2019.

Global greenhouse gas emissions (including LULUCF) will reach 55.6 Gt CO2 eq in 2020. They have doubled since 1970 and increased by almost 55% between 1990 and 2019. In 2020, due to the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, they decreased by 4.5% compared to 2019. Excluding LULUCF, they amount to 49.8 Gt CO2 eq (Olivier J.G.J., Trends in global CO2 and total greenhouse gas emissions: 2021 Summary report; PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, 2021, The Hague).

Regional distribution of GHG emissions per capita in 2021 excluding LULUCF

Notes: The graphs above include emissions of the three main greenhouse gases: N2O, CH4 and CO2 excluding LULUCF. Percentages indicate the proportion of a region's emissions to global emissions.
Chart sources: I4CE, from JRC EDGAR and World Bank, 2022

In 2021, average per capita emissions in North America are more than six times higher than in India. However, these values do not reflect the disparities that can exist within a region (for example, in the Middle East, per capita emissions are more than 56 t CO2 eq/capitain Qatar and 1 t CO2 eq/capitain Yemen) or within a single country.

Regional GHG emissions per unit of GDP in 2021 excluding LULUCF

Notes: The graphs above include emissions of the three main greenhouse gases: N2O, CH4 and CO2 excluding LULUCF. Percentages indicate the proportion of a region's emissions to global emissions.
Chart sources: I4CE, from JRC EDGAR and World Bank, 2022

In 2021, the carbon intensity of GDP is more than three times higher in China than in the EU, which means that three times more GHGs are emitted there, per unit of wealth produced.