Countries With The Highest Greenhouse Emissions Relative To Purchasing Power

Carbon dioxide emissions are emissions originating from burning of fossils fuels in industries, and transportation sectors. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that affects the radiative balance of the earth with a Global Warming Potential of 1. Carbon dioxide emission of a country is an indication of one greenhouse gas. Other gasses such as methane and nitrous oxide also have a direct influence on climate change. The Kyoto protocol of 1997 adopted by many countries who are members of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change is working towards reducing carbon dioxide globally. The implementing body is currently targeting countries with highest GHG emission relative to their per capita income. Some of these countries include:

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is the largest per capita producer of GHG and the second highest producer per unit of GDP. Trinidad and Tobago produces an average of 53 million tons of greenhouse emissions every year with 80%from power generation. Carbon dioxide accounts for 1.2 kilograms emission per PPP of GDP. Surprisingly emission from transport sector is very minimal compared to other countries. If Trinidad and Tobago can switch to using compressed gas especially in the transport sector, then emission of carbon dioxide will reduce significantly.

Turkmenistan

Economic sector development in Turkmenistan has equally led to the growth and consumption of energy. The enormous gas and fuel reserves have met the local demand for energy. Despite the increase in energy consumption, energy intensity on GDP at PPP on consumption continues to reduce significantly. The growth of energy consumption in Turkmenistan has been accompanied by a natural increase in greenhouse gas emission primarily carbon dioxide with an annual carbon dioxide emission of 1.1 kilograms per PPP of GDP. The largest emissions are from mining, transportation and fuel combustion.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has some of the biggest fossil fuel reserves and renewable energy such as solar and the wind. The renewable energy has been under-exploited while much of the concentration has been on fossil fuel. The continued use of fossil fuel has seen the level of GHG emission go up significantly. Compared to the level of GDP growth, Uzbekistan produces 0.9 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions per PPP of GDP. This ratio of emission to GDP growth is higher compared to the UNFCCC desired standard.

Palau

Palau relies mostly on fossil fuel with several diesel plants located in various parts of the country. Electrical and solar energy are also primary sources of energy. 50% of diesel consumption is used for the generation of electricity which is a common source of energy in most homes. Use of electricity has significantly reduced carbon emission to 0.8 kilograms per PPP of GDP. The government of the Republic of Palau is also encouraging the use of renewable energy with the aim of reducing the emission of GHG.

Other Countries

Mongolia, Ukraine, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Aruba, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also some of the countries with carbon dioxide emission per PPP of GDP above 0.6 kilograms. The level of emission in these countries poses a significant risk to the climate and weather patterns. Some of the international organizations have used these data to advise and push countries to take necessary measures to reduce GHG emissions. Some of the actions put forward are the use of green energy or renewable energy such as the wind, solar and geothermal.