Carbon emissions are falling in many countries: is yours one of them?

G20 countries currently account for 74% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with an average of eight tonnes per capita of carbon emissions. But which G20 economies are reducing emissions?

This chart from Climate Transparency’s G20 Climate Action – A Turning Point report shows the change in emissions between 2007 and 2012, plotted against the total CO₂ emissions per capita in 2012 for the G20 economies.

Of all the G20 economies, 55% reported falling emissions in the period assessed, including some countries with the highest per capita levels – the US, Australia and Canada. EU nations also reported reductions of between 10% and 20% – with the exception of Germany, the union’s biggest per capita emitter.

By contrast, apart from South Africa and Mexico, all the emerging economies in the group – including India, China and Brazil – reported increasing emissions. They do, however, also generally have lower emissions per capita.

The chart serves to highlight widely different trends across the world when it comes to cutting emissions, and the need for the global community to engage effectively in order to tackle climate change.

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Author: Joe Myers is a Digital Content Producer at Formative Content. 

Image: A chimney in an industrial area of Sydney emits vapour June 22, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne