The biggest absolute emissions of CO2 come from China and the United States.
In recent years, China has accelerated past the United States and is the biggest polluter in absolute terms, (which is unsurprising given China’s population and fast economic growth. India is also catching up.)
Biggest CO2 Polluters per capita
This measures the level of CO2 per person. Thus China with the highest CO2 in absolute terms is ranked considerably lower down.
Consumption-based emissions (trade adjusted)
It is worth bearing in mind that this data shows CO2 production in a country. CO2 by consumption would look different. For example, the UK is a net importer of CO2. In recent decades, the UK has reduced CO2 emissions per capita because manufacturing has declined and we import goods from other countries. In other words, CO2 emissions are produced elsewhere but the UK enjoy the goods.
