Global CO2 Emissions From Energy Combustion and Industrial Processes, 1900-2022

After a brief dip during the coronavirus-induced lockdowns, global emissions climbed to a record high in 2022. Or as the IEA put it, “the world has not heeded the call for a sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.” Clean energy technologies are being developed and coming on stream all the time but they need to be rapidly deployed and scaled up if the world it is to achieve the goal of net zero by 2050.

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Climate Politics

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This chart shows the total amount of man-made emissions created by the world's biggest polluters.
The amount of atmospheric CO2 has charted a steady climb higher. The Mauna Loa Observatory on the north flank of volcano of the same name
CO2 emissions from the industrial sectors led to a year-on-year drop in 2025 under the EU Emissions Trading System, according to verified European Commission figures
Refers to sectors in which greenhouse gas emissions are difficult to reduce. Includes industries such as iron and steel, cement, refining, chemicals, shipping, aviation and
A set of 10 principles put forward by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) which define high-quality carbon credits, focused on aspects

22 May 2026

HIGHLIGHT
Construction slowdown a factor in lower EU ETS CO2 emissions in 2025: EC

CO2 emissions from the industrial sectors led to a year-on-year drop in 2025 under the EU Emissions Trading System, according to verified European Commission figures released in April.

19 May 2026

GLOSSARY
Hard-to-abate

Refers to sectors in which greenhouse gas emissions are difficult to reduce. Includes industries such as iron and steel, cement, refining, chemicals, shipping, aviation and heavy duty trucks.

12 May 2026

GLOSSARY
Core Carbon Principles

A set of 10 principles put forward by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) which define high-quality carbon credits, focused on aspects such as governance, tracking, verifiability and additionality.

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