Which Country Emits More Greenhouse Gasses Than The Others?

The energy sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for nearly 31% of global emissions in 2022. China was the biggest emitter, accounting for 26.4 of global emissions, followed by the United States at 12.5, India at 7.06, and the European Union at 5. The world average is 372 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per million $GDP, but intensities vary across countries. In 2020, the top ten greenhouse gas emitters were China, the United States, India, the European Union, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, Iran, and Canada.

The U.S. is the second-largest emitter of CO2, with 5,057 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. The largest sources of CO2 emissions in the U.S. came from agriculture, deforestation, and other land-use changes. Non-CO2 greenhouse gases (CH4, N2O, and F-gases) have also increased significantly since 1850. The top three GHG emitters — China, the United States, and India — contribute 42.6 total emissions, while the bottom 100 countries only account for 42.6.

In 2022, the electric power sector was the second largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 76% of total emissions. Methane, primarily from agriculture, contributes 16% of emissions. The U.S. is the second-largest emitter of CO2, with 5,057 million metric tons of total emissions in 2021.

Emissions can be combined to look at emissions in a more comprehensive way, with electricity and heat production being the largest contributors.

What is the second most powerful greenhouse gas?

Methane, the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, accounts for about 16% of global emissions and is more than 28 times as potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Over the last two centuries, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled due to human-related activities. Methane is both a powerful greenhouse gas and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, making significant reductions in methane emissions crucial for reducing atmospheric warming potential.

China, the United States, Russia, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Mexico are estimated to be responsible for nearly half of all anthropogenic methane emissions. Major sources of methane emissions vary greatly, with coal production being a key source in China, natural gas and oil systems in Russia, oil and gas systems in the United States, livestock enteric fermentation, and landfills.

What is the number 2 contributor to global warming?

Since 1850, global CO₂ emissions have increased significantly as a consequence of the combustion of fossil fuels and the emission of industrial pollutants, in addition to the effects of agricultural practices, deforestation, and alterations in land use. Additionally, non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions have increased in response to a rise in demand for construction materials, an expansion in floor space per capita, greater energy consumption in buildings, longer travel distances, and larger and heavier vehicles.

What are the top 2 causes of global warming?

The combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and livestock farming are responsible for a considerable increase in greenhouse gases, which in turn is contributing to a rise in global temperature. The 2011-2020 decade was the warmest on record, with the average temperature reaching 1. 1°C above pre-industrial levels in 2019.

What is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas?

Methane, the second most prevalent greenhouse gas, accounts for about 16 of global greenhouse gas emissions and is over 25 times more effective at trapping heat than CO2. It is primarily produced and transported from natural gas, oil, coal, livestock farming, and wetlands. Nitrogen oxide, another potent greenhouse gas, has a 273 times global warming potential over a 100-year period and accounts for about 6 of global GHG emissions. It is primarily produced by agricultural activities and industrial processes.

Ozone, a greenhouse gas, occurs in both the stratosphere and troposphere, protecting life on Earth from harmful UV radiation. Ground-level ozone forms when pollutants from human activities react with sunlight and other atmospheric gases.

What is the second most emitted greenhouse gas?

CO2 accounts for 76% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with methane and nitrous oxide contributing 16% and 6% respectively. The rise in carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution has significantly impacted global emissions. The three largest emitters are China, the United States, and the European Union, with per capita emissions highest in the United States and Russia. Most of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from a small number of countries.

Who is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases?

China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide, with 11, 397 million metric tons emitted in 2022. This is primarily due to its reliance on coal and imported oil, with the U. S. second due to its gasoline-fueled transportation industry. China’s emissions were 15 higher than all other developed economies combined, with coal being the primary source of emissions. Around 58 of China’s total energy comes from coal, which is rich in carbon, releasing large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.

What is the second largest source of greenhouse gases?

• Transportation – Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuel for cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. Over 94% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes primarily gasoline and diesel and results in direct emissions. 2 The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions and second largest source when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are allocated across sectors. The transportation sector is an end-use sector for electricity but currently represents a relatively low percentage of total electricity use. Indirect emissions from electricity are less than 1 percent of direct emissions.
• Electricity production – Electric power includes emissions from electricity production used by other end use sectors (e. g., industry). In 2022, 60% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. 3
• Industry – Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily come from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from certain chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials. Industrial emissions are the third largest source of direct emissions. If indirect emissions from electricity use are allocated to the industrial end-use sector (e. g. to power industrial buildings and equipment), industrial activities account for a much larger share of U. S. greenhouse gas emissions as shown above.
• Commercial and Residential – Greenhouse gas emissions from the commercial and residential sector come from fossil fuels burned for heat and the use of gases for refrigeration and cooling in buildings, and non-building specific emissions such as the handling of waste. The commercial and residential sector emissions increase substantially when indirect emissions from electricity end-use are included, largely because buildings use 75% of the electricity generated in the US (e. g., for heating, ventilation and air conditioning
• lighting
• appliances, and plug loads). 4 When emissions from electricity use are distributed to the commercial and residential end-use sector, commercial and residential activities account for a much larger share of U. S. greenhouse gas emissions as shown above.
• Agriculture – Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture come from livestock such as cows, agricultural soils, and rice production. Indirect emissions from electricity use in agricultural activities (e. g., powering buildings and equipment) are about 5 percent of direct emissions.
• Land Use and Forestry – While not shown in the figure, land areas can act as a sink (absorbing CO 2 from the atmosphere) or a source of greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, since 1990, managed forests and other lands are a net sink, i. e., they have absorbed more CO 2 from the atmosphere than they emit, offsetting 13% of total gross greenhouse gas emissions.

Trends. Since 1990, gross U. S. greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by just over 3%. From year to year, emissions can rise and fall due to changes in the economy, the price of fuel, and other factors. In 2022, U. S. greenhouse gas emissions increased 0. 2% compared to 2021 levels. In 2020, there was a sharp decline in emissions largely due to the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on travel and other economic activity. In 2021 and 2022, the increase in total greenhouse gas emissions was driven largely by an increase in CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion due to the continued rebound in economic activity after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 8% relative to 2020 and 1% relative to 2021. CO 2 emissions from natural gas consumption increased by 5% relative to 2021. CO 2 emissions from coal consumption decreased by 6% from 2021. The increase in natural gas consumption and emissions in 2022 is observed across all sectors except for U. S. Territories, while the coal decrease in primarily in the electric power sector. Emissions from petroleum use increased by less than 1% in 2022.

• References. IPCC Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Stocker, T. F., D. Qin, G. K. Plattner, M. Tignor, S. K. Allen, J. Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and P. M. Midgley (eds.)). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 1535 pp..
• IPCC: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (P. R. Shukla, J. Skea, R. Slade, A. Al Khourdajie, R. van Diemen, D. McCollum, M. Pathak, S. Some, P. Vyas, R. Fradera, M. Belkacemi, A. Hasija, G. Lisboa, S. Luz, J. Malley, (eds.)). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA. doi: 10. 1017/9781009157926
• U. S. Energy Information Administration. Electricity Explained – Basics
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL Researchers Reveal How Buildings Across United States Do—and Could—Use Energy. Shoemaker, Susannah.

What is the second major greenhouse gas?

The United States is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with agriculture being the largest contributor. Domestic livestock, such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, produce CH4 as part of their digestive process. Animal manure storage and management in lagoons or holding tanks also contribute to CH4 emissions. Land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) activities also contribute to CH4 emissions.

Natural gas and petroleum systems are the second largest source of CH4 emissions in the US. Methane is emitted during the production, processing, storage, transmission, distribution, and use of natural gas, crude oil, and coal mining. Landfills are the third-largest source of CH4 emissions in the US. Methane is also generated from domestic and industrial wastewater treatment, composting, and anaerobic digestion.

Methane is also emitted from natural sources such as natural wetlands, reservoirs, ponds, termites, oceans, sediments, volcanoes, and wildfires. These sources produce methane through the microbial breakdown of organic matter, with the largest source being unmanaged natural wetlands. For more information on CH4’s role in warming the atmosphere and its sources, visit the Climate Change Indicators page.

What are the 2 most significant greenhouse gases?

Some greenhouse gases are emitted exclusively from human activities (e. g., synthetic halocarbons). Others occur naturally but are found at elevated levels due to human inputs (e. g., carbon dioxide). Anthropogenic sources result from energy-related activities (e. g., combustion of fossil fuels in the electric utility and transportation sectors), agriculture, land-use change, waste management and treatment activities, and various industrial processes. Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and various synthetic chemicals.

• Carbon dioxide is widely reported as the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas because it currently accounts for the greatest portion of the warming associated with human activities. Carbon dioxide occurs naturally as part of the global carbon cycle, but human activities have increased atmospheric loadings through combustion of fossil fuels and other emissions sources. Natural sinks that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (e. g., oceans, plants) help regulate carbon dioxide concentrations, but human activities can disturb these processes (e. g., deforestation) or enhance them.
• Methane comes from many sources, including human activities such as coal mining, natural gas production and distribution, waste decomposition in landfills, and digestive processes in livestock and agriculture. Natural sources of methane include wetlands and termite mounds.
• Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels.
• Various synthetic chemicals, such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and other synthetic gases, are released as a result of commercial, industrial, or household uses.
• Many other gases are known to trap heat in the atmosphere. Examples include water vapor, which occurs naturally as part of the global water cycle, and ozone, which occurs naturally in the stratosphere and is found in the troposphere largely due to human activities.

Each greenhouse gas has a different ability to absorb heat in the atmosphere, due to differences in the amount and type of energy that it absorbs, and a different “lifetime,” or time that it remains in the atmosphere.

For example, it would take thousands of molecules of carbon dioxide to equal the warming effect of a single molecule of sulfur hexafluoride—the most potent greenhouse gas—in terms of ability to absorb heat, as evaluated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 3 To facilitate comparisons between gases that have substantially different properties, the IPCC has developed a set of metrics called “global warming potentials.”

Who are the top 3 greenhouse gas emitters?

In 2020, the top ten greenhouse gas emitters were China, the United States, India, the European Union, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, Iran, and Canada. These countries accounted for approximately 67 of total greenhouse gas emissions. Land use changes, including energy, agriculture, forestry, and land use change, also contributed to these emissions. Net global greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land use were approximately 12 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent, or about 21 of total global emissions.

In areas like the United States and Europe, changes in land use associated with human activities partially offset emissions from deforestation in other regions. These changes in land use contribute to the overall greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the second largest contributor to global warming?

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is the second-largest contributor to climate warming after carbon dioxide. It is a heat-trapping gas with a short lifespan of 7 to 12 years, compared to CO2’s hundreds of years. Methane comes from both natural sources and human activities, with agriculture, fossil fuels, and landfill waste decomposition being the largest sources. Natural processes account for 40 of methane emissions, with wetlands being the largest natural source. Methane is a powerful heat-trapping gas, with an estimated 60 of today’s emissions resulting from human activities.