Global transportation-related emissions totaled 7.29 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO2) in 2020. This was a decrease of roughly 12 percent compared with the previous year, when emissions reached a record high of 8.25 GtCO2. This reduction was caused by global travel restrictions brought on by the outbreak of COVID-19.
Global transportation-related CO2 emissions have soared over the past 50 years, rising from just 2.8 billion GtCO2 in 1970. Between 1990 and 2019, global transportation emissions increased by almost 80 percent.
Annual transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions worldwide from 1970 to 2020
(in billion metric tons)
Characteristic
Emissions in billion metric tons of CO2
2020
7.29
2019
8.25
2018
8.14
2017
8.05
2016
7.87
2015
7.71
2014
7.49
2013
7.36
2012
7.17
2011
7.1
2010
7
2009
6.71
2008
6.84
2007
6.83
2006
6.62
2005
6.48
2004
6.34
2003
6.06
2002
5.93
2001
5.79
2000
5.76
1999
5.58
1998
5.42
1997
5.3
1996
5.22
1995
5.02
1994
4.89
1993
4.79
1992
4.75
1991
4.64
1990
4.6
1989
4.46
1988
4.34
1987
4.14
1986
4
1985
3.86
1984
3.78
1983
3.68
1982
3.65
1981
3.68
1980
3.69
1979
3.74
1978
3.67
1977
3.53
1976
3.41
1975
3.28
1974
3.19
1973
3.22
1972
3.05
1971
2.88
1970
2.8
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EDGAR/JRC. (October 14, 2021). Annual transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions worldwide from 1970 to 2020 (in billion metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1291615/carbon-dioxide-emissions-transport-sector-worldwide/
EDGAR/JRC. "Annual transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions worldwide from 1970 to 2020 (in billion metric tons)." Chart. October 14, 2021. Statista. Accessed June 25, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1291615/carbon-dioxide-emissions-transport-sector-worldwide/
EDGAR/JRC. (2021). Annual transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions worldwide from 1970 to 2020 (in billion metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 25, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1291615/carbon-dioxide-emissions-transport-sector-worldwide/
EDGAR/JRC. "Annual Transportation Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions Worldwide from 1970 to 2020 (in Billion Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Oct 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1291615/carbon-dioxide-emissions-transport-sector-worldwide/
EDGAR/JRC, Annual transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions worldwide from 1970 to 2020 (in billion metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1291615/carbon-dioxide-emissions-transport-sector-worldwide/ (last visited June 25, 2022)
