nature & planetOur World in Data
Fossil fuels produce most CO2 emissions, though a few countries are exceptions
Around 90 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions come from fossil fuels and industrial processes such as cement production. The remaining 10 percent comes mainly from land use change, especially carbon released when trees and vegetation are cleared. Fossil fuels are the dominant source in most countries, but a few nations have emissions profiles shaped by forests or other factors. Looking at each country's breakdown shows where the climate challenge is concentrated. The data helps separate the main driver of warming from the secondary ones.
Knowing the split between energy and land use explains why both cutting fossil fuels and protecting forests matter for climate goals.
