Carbon emissions show rapid rebound
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Global carbon dioxide pollution has returned to pre-pandemic levels as coal and gas-driven industries emerge from lockdown

GLOBAL CO2 EMISSIONS
(gigatonnes*)



38
34
30
26
22
18

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015  2021

1990-99 +0.9%/yr
Dissolution of Soviet Union -3.1%

2000-99 +3.0%/yr

Global financial crisis -1.2%

2010-19 +0.9%/yr

Covid-19 pandemic -5.4%

2021 est.: 36.4 – 4.9% higher than 20
    
*1 gigatonne = 1,000,000,000 tonne
                   
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PROJECTED CO2 EMISSIONS 2021
(gigatonnes / year)       Growth (percent)

China 11.1 (2020: 10.7)  4.0%
U.S. 5.1 (4.7) 7.6% 
EU27 2.8 (2.6) 7.6%
India 2.7 (2.4)  12.6%
Others 14.8 (14.4) 2.9%
    
                 
0 5 10 15
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Source: Global Carbon Budget 2021 Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS