Charted: Per-Capita CO2 Emissions by Global Region (1960-2022)

Visualizing 60+ Years of Per-Capita CO2 Emissions

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

This graphic visualizes over 60 years of per-capita CO2 emissions by region, based on analysis from Climate Watch (accessed via the World Resources Institute).

Data shows that North America has had the highest levels of per-capita CO2 emissions since 1960, though emissions have fallen significantly over the past few decades.

North America Leads

As of 2022, North America’s per-capita CO2 emissions are more than double the levels seen within the next highest regions.

This gap is largely driven by Canada and the United States. While figures vary by source, Mexico’s estimated per-capita emissions in 2022 were only around 3.4 metric tons.

Per-capita emissions have come down significantly since 1970. This is due to a combination of technological advancements, government policy shifts, and economic changes.

Technology Advancements

A key contributor to the decline in emissions is cleaner energy production. Throughout the 2000s, natural gas gradually replaced coal as the primary energy source.

Other energy sources such as nuclear, wind, and solar have further reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

Policy Shifts

In the U.S., legislation such as the Clean Air Act of 1970 have helped to reduce emissions. This act gave the federal government power to regulate air pollution from a range of sources including vehicles.

There have been several amendments to the Clean Air Act that expanded its scope of coverage.

The introduction of carbon taxes and carbon markets is also encouraging emissions reductions.

Economic Changes

Another factor at play is North America’s overall shift to a more service-based economy. The service sector typically uses less energy than the industrial sector.

This introduces the concept of “carbon leakage”, which is when companies outsource their production (and resulting emissions) to a different part of the world.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this post, check out the Climate section on Voronoi to see data visualizations on climate change, extreme weather, and more.