In this article, we are going to list the 5 Countries With The Highest Average Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Person. To read our detailed analysis of the carbon emission trends, please go to the 15 Countries With The Highest Average Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Person.
5. United Arab Emirates
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel per capita in 2019: 22.99 metric tonnes
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel in 2019: 222.612 million metric tonnes
The United Arab Emirates ranks 5th on our list of the 15 countries with the highest average carbon dioxide emissions per person. The economy of the federation is dominated by petroleum, which is primarily developed in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The GDP of the UAE in 2019 was $421 billion. The UAE remains an an opportunity hub with business-friendly zones and a rapidly rising economy.
UAE’s climate change plan 2017-2050 mentions several initiatives to cap the country’s carbon emissions.
Ashraf Jandali/Shutterstock.com
4. Kuwait
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel per capita in 2019: 23.39 metric tonnes
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel in 2019: 98.953 million metric tonnes
Kuwait’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of oil and gas which makes it one of the countries with the highest average carbon dioxide emissions per person. Kuwait has a GDP of $134 billion as of 2019 and the oil and gas sector accounts for approximately 40% of the country’s GDP. On the other hand, as the population and industry have expanded through the years, so has the amount of electricity generated. The country aims to diversify its electricity generation by investing in renewables which will produce 15% of total generation by 2030.
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3. Trinidad and Tobago
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel per capita in 2019: 23.81 metric tonnes
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel in 2019: 32.744 million metric tonnes
Ranking third on our list of the 15 countries with the highest average carbon dioxide emissions per person is the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. The country is well-known for its fossil-fuel reserves, with the oil and gas industry responsible for roughly 40% of GDP and 80% of exports. With one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere, the nation generates nearly nine times more natural gas than crude oil, with gas accounting for approximately two-thirds of the energy sector’s revenue.
Trinidad and Tobago has been suffering from the effects of climate change for many years. Heavy rainfalls result in extreme flooding while hotter temperatures cause intense bush fires. Wide swathes of coastlines are getting submerged under water. To be aligned with the Paris Agreement, Trinidad and Tobago launched two anti-global warming systems called “Knowledge Management System” and “Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification” systems in 2019.
Image by Adina Voicu from Pixabay
2. Qatar
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel per capita in 2019: 38.82 metric tonnes
Carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel in 2019: 106.528 million metric tonnes
Ranking second on our list of the 15 countries with the highest average carbon dioxide emissions per person in Qatar. Qatar had one of the poorest economies in the world before World War II when its population was engaged in agriculture and fishing. In 2019, Qatar had a GDP of $175.8 billion. Qatar has massive natural gas reserves, and its offshore North Field is one of the world’s biggest gas fields.
The “One Planet” Global Sovereign Wealth Fund was established by the Qatar Investment Authority to encourage green investments and accelerate efforts to consider environmental problems in the investment sector and management of sovereign wealth funds. Qatar confirmed the commissioning of the largest carbon storage plant in the country in October 2019 which will have the capacity to store 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually from the LNG sector.
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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.
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