DOT Center for Climate Change | About Transportation and Climate Change

More complete estimates of greenhouse gases are available for the U.S. than for many other countries. Although this complicates international comparisons, the U.S. also estimates carbon emissions from fossil fuel use in all countries. Because fossil fuel use accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, this is a useful starting point for comparison. As suggested below, the U.S. is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other single country, consistent with its large population and relative level of economic development:

World Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuel Use

Country/Region	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2004
United States	4,754.5	4,585.2	5,013.5	5,292.7	5,815.5	5,912.2
Other North America	684.6	705.9	779.6	824.7	949.4	974.7
Central and South America	623.4	617.3	695.5	851.7	990.7	1,041.4
Europe	4,657.9	4,564.3	4,500.3	4,259.8	4,426.9	4,653.4
Eurasia	3,027.5	3,496.8	3,792.2	2,468.6	2,321.7	2,550.8
Middle East	494.7	594.3	731.0	900.0	1,086.2	1,319.7
Africa	534.5	641.1	718.1	817.0	875.6	986.6
China	1,454.7	1,838.5	2,241.2	2,873.1	3,030.9	4,707.3
Japan	937.5	893.0	1,014.9	1,075.8	1,190.1	1,262.1
Other Asia & Oceania	1,163.9	1,476.4	1,940.0	2,670.0	3,164.4	3,635.4
World Total	18,333.3	19,412.8	21,426.1	22,033.5	23,851.5	27,043.6

However, this table also reveals that emissions have been growing much more rapidly in some countries than in the U.S. (On the other hand, emissions in Europe have largely remained the same since 1980, and emissions have declined in Eurasia since 1990.) Emissions have been growing particularly quickly in some developing countries, such as China. Depending upon future population and economic trends, emissions from such countries could overtake those of the U.S. and other developed countries in the foreseeable future.

Data Source: International Energy Annual 2004, Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 2006.