Global carbon dioxide emissions from energy 1965-2021, by region

The Asia-Pacific region produced 17.74 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2021. This was more than the combined total emissions of all other regions that year. China alone accounted for nearly 60 percent of Asia-Pacific CO₂ emissions, and 31 percent of the global total. The second most polluting region in 2021 was North America, where 5.6 billion metric tons of CO₂ were emitted. Emissions in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region increased by around five percent in 2021 when compared to 2020 levels.

COVID-19 caused emissions reductions

The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in strict lockdowns and restrictions being imposed in a bid to slow the spread of the virus. This caused dramatic emission reductions worldwide, as travel and industrial activities were disrupted. Some of the most significant reductions occurred in early 2020, when many of the first lockdowns were introduced. In April 2020, global energy-related CO₂ emissions fell more than 14 percent when compared to the same month the previous year.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations

Although annual emissions fell substantially as a result of COVID-19, global atmospheric concentrations of CO₂ reached a record high in 2020, averaging more than 414 parts per million. The increased burning of fossil fuels - as well as deforestation and other human activities - has seen atmospheric CO₂ levels increase massively in recent decades. CO₂ is the primary contributor to climate change.