The countries that currently make up the European Union (EU-27) accounted for approximately 13 percent of global cumulative carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from 1850 to 2021. These emissions contributed some 10 percent of the global warming observed during this period. This makes the EU-27 the third-biggest contributor to climate change, behind the United States and China.
Current and historic contributions to global warming and emissions in the European Union from 1850 to 2021
(in percent)
This figure contrasts the distribution of global population in 2021 (total = 7.86 billion), GHG emissions in 2021 (total = 51.6 GtCO₂e), cumulative CO₂ emissions (total = 2,200 GtCO₂) and historic contributions to warming (total = 1.61°C). Historic contributions to warming result from cumulative CO₂ emissions, but also estimated CH4, N₂O and F-gas emissions (cooling from aerosols is excluded, leading to a higher estimate of warming than currently observed). Note that due to missing data, these totals are not complete for all categories and exclude, for example, international transport. Current GHG and cumulative CO₂ emissions include net LULUCF CO₂ emissions (global bookkeeping approach) to align with historical emissions estimates (note that this leads to differences with section 2.3.1 where national inventories are used). Non-CO₂ gases are converted to CO₂ equivalents using global warming potentials with a 100-year time horizon from the IPCC AR6.
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UNEP. (November 20, 2023). Current and historic contributions to global warming and emissions in the European Union from 1850 to 2021 (in percent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456636/historic-contributions-to-global-warming-eu27/
UNEP. "Current and historic contributions to global warming and emissions in the European Union from 1850 to 2021 (in percent)." Chart. November 20, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456636/historic-contributions-to-global-warming-eu27/
UNEP. (2023). Current and historic contributions to global warming and emissions in the European Union from 1850 to 2021 (in percent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 26, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456636/historic-contributions-to-global-warming-eu27/
UNEP. "Current and Historic Contributions to Global Warming and Emissions in The European Union from 1850 to 2021 (in Percent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456636/historic-contributions-to-global-warming-eu27/
UNEP, Current and historic contributions to global warming and emissions in the European Union from 1850 to 2021 (in percent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456636/historic-contributions-to-global-warming-eu27/ (last visited November 26, 2024)
Current and historic contributions to global warming and emissions in the European Union from 1850 to 2021 (in percent) [Graph], UNEP, November 20, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1456636/historic-contributions-to-global-warming-eu27/