The smoke area in this design represents the five countries that have emitted the most CO₂ from 1750 to 2024, as a result of fossil fuel use and industrial activity. The United States, China, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom have been responsible for 56% of cumulative emissions since the Industrial Revolution. And that tiny puff of smoke? Yes, that’s Colombia.
What is CO₂ and why does it matter so much?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a naturally occurring gas in the atmosphere and a key part of the life cycle. However, since the Industrial Revolution, human activities—mainly the burning of coal, oil, and gas—have drastically increased the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere. This excess acts like a blanket that traps heat, causing the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming. The higher the CO₂ concentration, the higher the planet’s average temperature—leading to extreme climate events and ecosystem imbalances.
Five countries, over 50% of historical emissions
Since the Industrial Revolution, massive fossil fuel combustion has transformed the atmosphere. While all countries have emitted CO₂ to varying degrees, the historical distribution of these emissions is far from equal. According to the latest data, just five countries account for 56% of cumulative emissions since 1750:
- United States: 24.5%
- China: 15.5%
- Russia: 6.9%
- Germany: 5.4%
- United Kingdom: 4.3%
This figure contrasts sharply with countries in the Global South. Nations like Liberia, Chad, Malawi, Niger, and Sierra Leone have contributed less than 0.01% of the total. Colombia, for instance, accounts for just 0.1%, and Mexico for 1%.
Want to learn more about historical CO₂ emissions? Check out our blog.
Per capita emissions: a necessary perspective
If we shift from total figures to CO₂ emissions per capita—the average emissions per person—the picture changes. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany still top the list, while China and India, despite their large populations and economic growth, rank much lower.
This is mainly because Global North countries have high per-person energy consumption, including greater use of cars, home heating, air travel, and energy-intensive goods. In contrast, in countries like China, energy use is more concentrated in industry rather than individual lifestyles, lowering the average emissions per inhabitant.
Who pays the price?
The impacts of climate change are not equally distributed. Countries like Niger and Chad, which have contributed the least to global emissions, are among the most affected by extreme weather—partly due to their location in the Sahel belt, a region especially vulnerable to drought and desertification.
These and other data are essential to making visible the inequalities at the heart of the climate crisis. Understanding who has emitted the most, who suffers the worst consequences, and how responsibilities are distributed is a key step toward climate justice. Accessing, analyzing, and communicating this information enables more just and informed decisions in the face of climate change.
At Datasketch, we believe data can reach more people and spark conversations when integrated into everyday objects. That’s why we’re showcasing an example of this design on a t-shirt. Here you can find more designs based on data visualizations.
