World emissions rose in 2024, but key economies like the EU and Japan are showing signs of reversing the trend
Global emissions reach new highs
In 2024, human activities released 53.2 gigatonnes (Gt) of greenhouse gases (GHG), representing a 1.3% increase from 2023. This rise, equivalent to the annual emissions of Germany, continues the upward trend seen since 1990, with global GHG emissions now 65% higher than they were three decades ago.
Despite the overall increase, emissions per unit of GDP, also known as emission intensity, fell for all major economies. This suggests that while emissions are still increasing, economies are becoming more efficient in their production of greenhouse gases.
EU and Japan lead in emission reduction.
Among the world’s eight largest emitters, China, the United States, India, the EU, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Japan, only the EU and Japan managed to reduce their emissions in 2024. The EU’s emissions decreased by 1.8% (approximately 60 Mt CO2eq), while Japan experienced a 2.8% decrease.
In contrast, India recorded the highest absolute increase in emissions, adding 164.8 Mt CO2eq compared to 2023, a 3.9% rise. Indonesia saw the most significant relative increase at 5%, followed by Russia (+2.4%) and China (+0.8%). The US and Brazil had relatively stable emissions with minor increases.
Despite these figures, both China and India showed lower emissions growth than GDP growth, showing some progress in decoupling economic development from environmental impact.
Decoupling the economy from emissions
The idea of “decoupling”, where economic growth occurs without a corresponding rise in emissions, is getting more attention. In 2024, the United States, Russia, and Japan achieved absolute decoupling, having reduced their emissions compared to 1990 while continuing to experience strong GDP growth.
The EU leads in this area, with a long-term decline in emissions despite steady economic expansion. This trend was briefly disrupted in 2021 due to the post-pandemic rebound, but has since resumed.
Power and fossil fuels drive sector increases.
The power generation sector experienced the most significant increase in emissions in 2024, rising by 235 million tons of CO2 equivalent, or 1.5%. Emissions from fuel exploitation also rose by 1.6%. Other sectors, such as industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and waste, remained stable or increased slightly, showing no significant progress in reducing emissions.
Globally, land use and forests play a vital role in absorbing carbon emissions. Managed forest removed an estimated 5.5 Gt CO2 in 2024, helping to offset emissions. However, deforestation and wildfires continued to be a challenge. While land use, land use challenges, and forestry (LULUCF) activities removed 1.3 Gt CO2eq from the atmosphere, the inclusion of wildfires turned the sector into a net emitter, adding 0.9 Gt CO2eq.
Wildfires were especially significant in Canada, Brazil, and Bolivia, contributing 2.1 Gigatons of CO2 Equivalent. Meanwhile, emissions from organic soils remained unchanged at around 1.1 Gt CO2.
Future policy and monitoring
Efforts to address climate change continue, especially in the EU. Policies such as the European Green Deal and Climate Law aim to cut net emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. A new 2040 target proposes a 90% reduction.
The latest data, compiled by the European Commission’s EDGAR program and the International Energy Agency, provide vital insights for scientists and policymakers. By offering comparable emissions data across countries, EDGAR supports global efforts to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
