Most of the world’s countries, in individual capacity as well as large institutions such as the European Union or the United Nations, have been implementing measures for years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone – greenhouse gases. Root cause of effect.
Europe is probably the continent that is making the most efforts to reduce the emissions of these gases and at the same time, Be a sustainable and eco-friendly society, For this reason, according to Eurostat data, all member states of the bloc reduced their CO₂ emissions during 2020 and the average reduction across the EU was 10 percent.
But, which are the most polluting countries in the world? The list is headed by which is now the second most populous country in the world. China released in 2020 9,899.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide According to the data for the year 2020 presented by BP Statistical Review of World Energy, in the atmosphere, i.e. 30.3% of the total.
This is followed by the United States, with almost half, 4,457.2 million tonnes (13.4% of the total) and closing out the top 3 is what recently became the country with the most inhabitants worldwide, India, with 2,302.3 million tonnes of CO₂ , 6.8% of emissions.
Behind are other Asian powers, such as Russia, Japan, Iran, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, Germany is the only European country which ranks seventh in the list of 10 most polluting countries. Canada closes the classification in tenth place, with values similar to Saudi Arabia and the only country in the American continent that enters the list along with the United States.
Spain out of European top 5
Another report, this one done by the Fundación Empresa y Clima and presented late last year, concludes that China, United States, India, Russia and Japan They are the world’s top five CO₂ emitting countries, each exceeding 1,000 million tonnes, and they represent 62.9% of total world emissions.
At the European level, Germany is the largest emitter with 843 million tonnes, although this marked a decrease of 5.3% from the previous year. The German country is followed by Turkey with 522 million tonnes (137% more than in 1990); the United Kingdom, with 496 million (39.2% less than in 1990) and France, with 460 million (18% less than in 1990, although more modest).
For our part, Spain reduced its emissions by 20.8% compared to 2019, maintaining a decline that began in 2017, when restrictions on coal-fired power generation came into force. Another study published in Shanghai by the Center for Development Policy at Boston University highlights that only Chinese companies’ coal plants abroad already produce more CO₂ emissions than those in Spain or Thailand.
Asia’s cooperation is necessary
jose miguel vinas, a meteorologist, believes that, without the cooperation of Asian powers, a global commitment to reduce CO₂ emissions would be impossible. “If we want to move towards a global scenario of very low or very low emissions, to which we can gradually adapt, the Asian giants have the wherewithal to stop the machines and develop differently from the way they have been doing it. There is no other option.”
With regard to the opening of coal plants in China this year, Vienna recalls that it is also the country that is investing the most in renewable and nuclear energy. “The predictable, though unintended, growth of China will require a lot of energy. They will have to bet on everything, renewable or not, to guarantee supply and energy security. The problem is that much of this growth is unsustainable. Apart from being there, there is a lot of impact.
A global commitment to reduce CO₂ emissions would be impossible without the cooperation of Asian powers, the expert believes. “If we want to move towards a global scenario of very low or very low emissions, to which we can gradually adapt, the Asian giants have the wherewithal to stop the machines and develop differently from the way they have been doing it. There is no other option.”
