5 Countries With The Highest Average Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Person

1. Palau

Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel per capita in 2019: 59.88 metric tonnes

Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel in 2019: 1.330 million metric tonnes

Topping our list of the 15 countries with the highest average carbon dioxide emissions per person is a relatively obscure country named Palau. The country is a major emitter of carbon on a per-person basis given its small population size.

Palau’s economy is fueled by tourism, fishing and agriculture, and trading. The service sector is the most important key player that supports Palau’s economy, accounting for nearly 80% of GDP. Palau had a GDP of $268 million in 2019. In 2019, the government of Palau recorded 89,726 visitors which contributed approximately $67 million to the nation’s GDP. The tourism industry is a major player in climate change in Palau. As Palau attracts more foreign tourists, so are the flights going to and from the country as well as the consumption of imported foods during their stay. All of these practices use a lot of fossil fuels and divert resources away from the island.

To combat climate change, the Republic of Palau aims to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world. The climate change blueprint seeks to decrease Palau’s carbon footprint, both domestically and through international tourism, while increasing the production of locally sourced organic food. Launched in August 2020, the carbon-neutral project is launched by the collaboration of Palau Bureau of Tourism, Slow Food International, and Sustainable Travel International. Also, the Palau government will establish a carbon management tool where tourists will be able to measure and monitor their carbon emissions from travel and leisure activities.

Image by JAY PARK from Pixabay

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