Today 174 nations, plus the European Union, signed the historic Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement has three main goals:
1) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change
2) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production
3) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.
If successful, this may be known as the moment that the countries of the world came together to save the planet for future generations. Here is the Paris Agreement country list, ordered by volume of carbon emissions. Unless otherwise noted, data on carbon emissions are taken from the year 2014 from the European Comission's Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR).
1) China
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
10,540,749.59
China upholds the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, and takes an active part in international cooperation on climate change.
President Xi Jinping
2) United States Of America
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
5,334,529.74
Full implementation of this agreement will help delay or avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change, and will pave the way for even more progress, in successive stages, over the coming years.
President Barack Obama
3) India
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,341,896.76
The human race as a collective body needs to respond to these challenges or their very existence might be in danger.
President Pranab Mukherjee
4) Japan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,278,921.81
The Earth is the sole homeland to our humankind. We must hand it down safely to the generations of our children and grandchildren.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
5) Germany
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
767,145.57
Germany has set itself clear targets. We are going to reduce our CO2 emissions by 40% by the year 2020. And by the year 2050, we want to have reduced emissions by 80 to 95% from a 1990 baseline..
Chancellor Angela Merkel
6) Iran
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
618,197.21
Global warming will have a very dangerous process and will be followed by devastating impacts and consequences.
Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar
7) Republic of Korea
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
610,065.60
We must marshal the collective will and capacities of the entire world and make absolutely sure that this Climate Change Conference gives birth to a new climate regime.
President Park Geun-hye
8) Canada
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
565,991.53
We'll demonstrate that we are serious about climate change … This means making decisions based on science, it means reducing carbon emissions, including through carbon pricing towards a climate resilient economy.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
9) Brazil
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
501,102.84
The global climate agreement we seek is one that promotes sustainable development. The growth of our economies is compatible with reductions in emissions.
President Dilma Rousseff
10) Mexico
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
456,269.59
We are convinced that it is possible to secure a new climate regime without disrupting economic and social development..
President Enrique Pena Nieto
11) Indonesia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
452,976.61
Due to our convenient position with [more than] 17,000 islands, we have to ensure [that the effects of climate change] can be minimized [as they can] increase sea levels.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo
12) United Kingdom
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
415,420.92
Let’s just imagine for a moment what we would have to say to our grandchildren if we failed.
Prime Minister David Cameron
13) Australia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
409,398.52
Climate change is a global problem. The planet is warming because of the growing level of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.
Prime Minister Malcom Turnbell
14) South Africa
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
392,718.90
For countries such as South Africa, weather patterns in coastal provinces are already wreaking havoc on the lives of our people, which makes this challenge a reality that we are already confronting.
President Jacob Zuma
15) Turkey
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
337,648.00
Global warming, climate change, desertification and drought are the most challenging issues of today’s world.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
16) Italy
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
337,648
Agriculture plays a fundamental role [in reducing emigration and conflict]. You achieve the means to feed families, support forms of social organization, preserve land and biodiversity, fight against climate change, create jobs and prosperity, contribute to stable and just societies and, most importantly, eradicate the root causes that push more people to emigrate.
President Sergio Mattarella
17) France
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
323,744.03
To resolve the climate crisis, good will, statements of intent are not enough. We are at breaking point.
President Park Geun-hye
18) Poland
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
298130.93
In Poland we see the need to protect the climate, but we’re also very loudly talking about the fact that our economy today needs different solutions than those which are being proposed
Prime Minister Beata Szydło
19) Thailand
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
271,978.30
Sustainability requires that humankind must learn to live in harmony with nature and lead a balanced life in a green society. Today, the adverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters can reverse decades of sustainable development gains.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
20) Ukraine
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
249,065.26
21) Spain
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
241,636.89
Climate change is the biggest environmental trial we are facing. It presents huge social and economic challenges.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
22) Malaysia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
227,481.82
Climate change and global warming can no longer be viewed lightly. Its effects are real and Malaysians are not spared from feeling the effects of it.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
23) Egypt
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
225,111.50
24) United Arab Emirates
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
201,052.18
Celebrating the last barrel of oil, as my brother Mohammed bin Zayed has said, we will build a sustainable economy for future generations.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
25) Argentina
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
199,042.92
26) Venezuela
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
195,212.97
We will be able to start to saving the planet by changing the system, not the climate.
President Nicolas Maduro
27) Viet Nam
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
190,221.79
Climate change is a hot issue, not only receiving a lot of attention from the international community, but also from the Government of Việt Nam because the country was one of five that will suffer most from climate change.
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc
28) Pakistan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
158,111.78
We are adopting environment-friendly policies to overcome climate degradation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
29) Netherlands
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
158,106.08
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, both in Europe and the Caribbean, is fully committed to the goal of keeping global warming below two degrees Celsius.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte
30) Algeria
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
141,473.22
Algeria ratified all agreements relating to environment and remains committed to addressing the climate change issue in its national environment strategy and its action plan for environment and sustainable development.
Mohamed-Larbi Ould Khelifa
31) Czech Republic
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
111,654.71
For the Czech Republic it is most important to achieve an agreement in Paris, a long-term global agreement which would be fair and stable and which would include all parties with the aim of reaching the below 2 degrees Celsius target.
Pavel Zámyslický
32) Kuwait
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
98,558.59
[Kuwait is willing to] extend bridges of cooperation with the international community to combat climate change.
Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah
33) Belgium
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
97,211.95
The fight against climate change is essential for our joint future, for peace, for security and for development.
Prime Minister Charles Michel
34) Philippines
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
96,940.31
It is imperative that all countries do everything, and maximize what can be done to address climate change now. Either we all strive and sacrifice, or we only vary in how much we lose.
President Benigno S. Aquino III
35) Qatar
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
88,750.72
36) Chile
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
78,626.29
There are many things that worry me about climate change, ranging from severe drought and flooding to islands that could disappear under water – in other words, how natural events linked to climate change affect the lives of people.
President Michelle Bachelet
37) Romania
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
78,288.59
Policy needs to be well equipped to address the challenges of food security and climate change, to preserve natural resources and to maintain territorial balance across Europe.
Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș
38) Oman
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
74,288.47
39) Colombia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
74,053.56
40) Greece
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
71,061.60
41) Austria
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
69,807.72
42) Belarus
.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Belarus_(1995-2012).svg.png)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
67,736.58
43) Bangladesh
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
66,471.01
44) Israel
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
64,795.12
45) Morocco
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
60,653.10
46) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
59,858.59
47) Serbia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
59,250.13
48) Finland
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
54,792.99
49) Peru
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
51,959.41
50) Bulgaria
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
51,196.08
51) Libya
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
50,604.01
52) Portugal
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
48,255.49
53) Singapore
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
47,786.29
54) Norway
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
47,786.30
55) Sweden
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
44,313.73
56) Hungary
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
43,734.77
57) Switzerland
.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Switzerland_(Pantone).svg.png)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
40,229.17
58) Denmark
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
40,030.30
59) Slovakia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
34,684.55
60) Ireland
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
34,638.78
61) New Zealand
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
34,106.27
62) Azerbaijan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
31,727.85
63) Cuba
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
30,242.30
64) Angola
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
25,013.15
65) Tunisia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
24,277.72
66) Bosnia and Herzegovina
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
23,640.76
67) Dominican Republic
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
23,442.44
68) Jordan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
22,295.90
69) Lebanon
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
21,107.98
70) Croatia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
20,677.46
71) Bahrain
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
20,522.22
72) Estonia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
19,439.93
73) Bolivia
.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Bolivia_(state).svg.png)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
17,793.03
74) Sudan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
17,266.73
75) Slovenia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
16,672.89
76) Sri Lanka
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
16,647.74
77) Malawi
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
16,590.00
78) Mongolia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
14,695.74
79) Kenya
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
14,083.86
80) Ghana
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
14,070.11
81) Zimbabwe
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
13,135.40
82) Lithuannia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
12,349.22
83) Guatemala
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
11,953.33
84) Luxembourg
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
10,378.16
85) Panama
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
10,230.40
86) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
9,491.22
87) Cameroon
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
9,178.75
88) Myanmar
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
9,128.60
89) United Republic of Tanzania
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
9,128.60
90) Ethiopia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
9,083.72
91) Honduras
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
8,447.14
92) Jamaica
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
8,297.83
93) Senegal
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
8,189.47
94) Uruguay
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
8,113.99
95) Afghanistan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,873.21
96) Costa Rica
.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Costa_Rica_(state).svg.png)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
14,695.74
97) Latvia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,641.48
98) Brunei Darussalam
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,412.12
99) Cote d’Ivoire
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,325.78
100) Cyprus
.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Cyprus_(1960-2006).svg.png)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,237.08
101) El Salvador
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,161.47
102) Papua New Guinea
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
7,118.39
103) Georgia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
6,537.25
104) Nepal
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
6,502.60
105) Botswana
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
5,694.57
106) Paraguay
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
5,526.06
107) Congo
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
5,067.71
108) Gabon
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
5,026.87
109) Uganda
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
4,891.81
110) Cambodia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
4,760.29
111) Mozambique
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
4,382.33
112) Bahamas
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
4,232.01
113) Albania
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
4,031.77
114) Democratic Republic of Congo
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,984.36
115) Iceland
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,848.86
116) Tajikistan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,647.21
117) Namibia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,559.71
118) Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,373.73
119) Mauritius
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,270.42
120) Madagascar
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
3,015.26
121) Montenegro
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,817.80
122) Guyana
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,757.98
123) Mauritania
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,467.52
124) Burkina Faso
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,444.44
125) Malta
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,413.03
126) Haiti
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,287.76
127) State Of Palestine
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,248.00
128) Suriname
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,161.52
129) Togo
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,133.71
130) Equatorial Guinea
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,096.09
131) Niger
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,053.16
132) Guinea
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,038.80
133) South Sudan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
2,016.00
134) Mali
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,638.58
135) Djibouti
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,442.25
136) Bhutan
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,441.72
137) Barbados
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,359.50
138) Fiji
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,344.94
139) Rwanda
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,341.83
140) Somalia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,277.88
141) Chad
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,273.58
142) Sierra Leone
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,268.12
143) Burundi
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1,227.35
144) Maldives
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
972.48
145) Belize
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
958.69
146) Liberia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
807.67
147) Central African Republic
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
736.66
148) Eritrea
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
671.94
149) Swaziland
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
658.50
150) Saint Lucia
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
551.14
151) Andorra
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
491.38
152) Grenada
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
477.26
153) Antigua and Barbuda
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
442.98
154) Timor-Leste
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
658.50
155) Lesotho
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
322.88
156) Guinea Bissau
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
322.35
157) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
311.14
158) Solomon Islands
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
276.17
159) Saint Kitts and Nevis
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
267.70
160) San Marino
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
213.00
161) Tonga
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
204.14
162) Liechtenstein
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
188.60
163) Dominica
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
166.49
164) Samoa
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
134.56
165) Vanuatu
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
213.00
166) Marshall Islands
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
110.52
167) Cabo Verde
.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Cape_Verde_(2-3_ratio).svg.png)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
105.00
168) Monaco
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
90.00
169) Sao Tome and Principe
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
60.02
170) Kiribati
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
41.98
171) Palau
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
32.88
172) Micronesia (Federated States of)
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
17.00
173) Nauru
Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons
1.11
174) Tuvalu
Logan Strain is a San Diego based writer who covers emerging technologies and green solutions. Logan is an avid salsa lover and is always open to try new recipes.
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