Maps of CO2 emission
| Above is a map showing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, per person, for each of the world's nations. The map lists the emissions in tons of carbon dioxide released per person each year. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and can affect the climate of the Earth. The nations that release the most carbon dioxide are the industrialized nations, such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Japan, Australia, and the nations of Europe. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil or traditional fuels such as wood are burned. Thus, the amount of carbon dioxide released per person is related to the amount of energy used per person. For example, for each ton of methane burned, 2.75 tons of carbon dioxide are released. The countries of Africa and Central and Southeast Asia do not release nearly as much carbon dioxide per person. |
Credit: Earth Forum, Houston Museum of Natural Science