A handful of rich countries account for most of the CO2 emitted since industrialisation began

nature & planetanalysisOur World in Data1750–present

A handful of rich countries account for most of the CO2 emitted since industrialisation began

the gist

Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for centuries or millennia, so the total from past emissions matters as much as today's output. Since the industrial era began, the United States has emitted more CO2 than any other country, followed by China, Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom. Early industrialisers produced large shares before emissions from emerging economies grew. Counting by country shows that responsibility for warming is tied to historic energy use, not only to present emissions.

how it works

CO2 from burning coal, oil and gas accumulates because oceans and forests absorb only part of it each year. Emissions from a century ago still warm the planet today, so cumulative totals reveal different responsibilities than annual figures.

so what

Cumulative totals shape debates over climate fairness, with poorer nations arguing that countries which industrialised first should bear more of the cost of cutting emissions.

fun fact

Atmospheric CO2 was about 280 parts per million before the Industrial Revolution and has risen far above that since.

more on this

background

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect which contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) from burning fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) is the main cause of climate change. The largest annual emissions are from China followed by the United States, which has higher emissions per capita. Emissions from human activities have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by about 50% over pre-industrial levels. The growing levels of emissions have varied, but have been consistent among all greenhouse gases. Over 60 billion tons were emitted in 2025, higher than any year before. Total cumulative emissions from 1870 to 2022 were 703 GtC (2575 GtCO2), of which 484±20 GtC (1773±73 GtCO2) from fossil fuels and industry, and 219±60 GtC (802±220 GtCO2) from land use change. Land-use change, such as deforestation, caused about 31% of cumulative emissions over 1870–2022, coal 32%, oil 24%, and gas 10%.

From Wikipedia: Greenhouse gas emissions (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗

see

Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tom.schulz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ourworldindata, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Our World in Data · CC BY 4.0

Image: Our World in Data

source: Our World in Data ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗