The 80bnt CO2 emissions between 2013 and 2020 are higher than the 78bn British CO2 emissions over 220 years
Figures show that China has released more carbon dioxide in the last eight years than the UK since the Industrial Revolution began.
The UK’s carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere between 1750 and 2020 were 78 billion tonnes, compared to China’s 80 billion tonnes.
The UK indicated that it was open to paying “climate-change reparations” to countries at risk. This issue will be discussed at the ongoing Cop27 summit.
China, however, is unlikely to join an arrangement as it considers itself to be a developing nation.
This is despite China emitting 14 percent of all emissions in history. The United States has emitted 25% of all emissions.
The UK has produced just 4.6% of all historical emissions, which is fifth in the world. These emissions were around 80 percent of those that occurred prior to 1990.
The UK currently emits less than 1% of global emissions annually and ranks 68th globally in per capita emissions after adjusting for population.
China is the second largest emitter of global greenhouse gases, accounting for 30% each year. It ranks 42nd in per capita emissions.
While China continues to increase its global emissions, the United Kingdom is leading other developed countries in reducing this pollutant.
According to the University of Oxford’s Our World in Data Project, the UK saw the greatest reduction in CO2 emissions in the last 30 years compared to other industrialized nations.
Just over half of the UK’s annual carbon emissions are accounted for – 54.8 percent – compared to 1990.
Germany and France have both seen their emissions drop by about 40%, while Germany’s has fallen by 30%.
China’s emissions have quadrupled in the same time period. In 2020, China will emit 10.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to the UK’s 329 million.
The UK is among the seven G20 countries that have had its emissions decrease compared to 1990s levels. South Korea, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have all doubled their emissions in the same time period.
These countries are not “Annex I”, which is a post-industrial nation that was previously identified. This has made them less likely to support climate finance pledges to the developing world.
Some countries that are climate-vulnerable have pointed out that although industrialised countries in western Europe have seen significant reductions in their emissions in recent years, they still constitute a historical deficit in climate-affecting emissions.
For example, the US, UK, and European Union collectively have emitted more than half of all global emissions in history.
The V20 countries, which are extremely vulnerable to climate change and comprise 10% of the world’s population, have collectively produced less than 0.7% of carbon dioxide.
These countries believe that climate change has caused a loss of $525billion in the last 20 years. This figure could increase by as much as two-thirds by 2050.
While many Western countries have seen a decrease in their emissions over the past few years, this is due to a wider move away from industrialization. However, some countries still emit high levels of emissions.
Only three countries, China (30%), the US (13%), and India (7%) accounted collectively for more than half of all 2020 emissions, while 118 of the 224 areas were responsible for less than 1%.
