The sector is the largest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions worldwide. In 2020, electricity and heat production produced 13.13 billion metric tons of CO2 (GtCO2) globally. This accounted for roughly 37 percent of global CO2 emissions that year. The second largest carbon dioxide emitter was the transportation sector, which produced 7.29 GtCO2.
Emissions from coal combustion
The power sector is a major source of emissions due to coal being the most used source for electricity generation worldwide. Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels, and produces huge amounts of CO2 emissions when combusted. The largest producer of coal emissions is China, which released 7.4 GtCO2 from coal use in 2020. In comparison, India, which is the second largest emitter, produced 1.6 GtCO2 from coal use.
Biggest polluters
It is no surprise that the most polluting companies are within the energy sector. Between 1965 and 2018, just 20 fossil fuel firms were responsible for emitting approximately 480 GTCO2e. This equates to around a third of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions released during this period.
Global carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, by sector
(in billion metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Source did not provide a release date Figures have been rounded
*Power Industry - Power and heat generation plants (public & autoproducers)
Other Other industrial combustion - Combustion for industrial manufacturing and fuel production Buildings – Small scale non-industrial stationary combustion Transport – Mobile combustion (road & rail & ship & aviation) Other sectors – Industrial process emissions & agriculture & waste.
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EDGAR/JRC. (December 31, 2021). Global carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, by sector (in billion metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/276480/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector/
EDGAR/JRC. "Global carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, by sector (in billion metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. December 31, 2021. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/276480/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector/
EDGAR/JRC. (2021). Global carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, by sector (in billion metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/276480/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector/
EDGAR/JRC. "Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions in 2020, by Sector (in Billion Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/276480/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector/
EDGAR/JRC, Global carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, by sector (in billion metric tons of carbon dioxide) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/276480/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector/ (last visited June 28, 2022)
