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Everyone should know about per capita carbon dioxide emissions: Who is the real environmental hero?
As the world faces climate change, carbon dioxide emissions have become a key topic of discussion. According to data from 2023, global carbon dioxide emissions reached 53.0 GtCO2eq, a record high. This figure is an increase of 1.9% compared to 2022, equivalent to 994 MtCO2eq. This has led to questions about environmental heroes: Who can be called a true environmental warrior with lower per capita emissions?
"Emissions depend not only on a country's industrial structure, but are also profoundly influenced by its population size."
According to statistics, globally, the main source of carbon dioxide emissions is still fossil fuels, accounting for 73.7% of total emissions. China, the United States, India, the EU-27, Russia and Brazil were the largest greenhouse gas emitters in 2023, accounting for 49.8% of the world’s population and 62.7% of greenhouse gas emissions. It is worth noting that these countries' emissions account for a huge proportion of the global economy and are crucial to addressing global warming. These data have prompted deep reflection on environmental responsibility. Although China is the largest CO2 emitter in absolute terms, given its large population, its per capita emissions are lower than those of the United States and other small high-emitting countries. For example, China's per capita emissions in 2023 were 9.24 tons, while the United States was as high as 13.83 tons, which shows a clear contrast.
In this era of globalization, international trade also plays an important role in emissions calculations. Products produced in some countries are consumed in others, which means that there are transnational environmental responsibilities behind many high-emission commodities. For example, a portion of CO2 emissions in Asia and Africa are actually generated to meet demand in the European and North American markets. As global warming continues, the consensus in the scientific community is that carbon dioxide remains the main anthropogenic greenhouse gas. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global average temperature in 2016 had already risen by 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. This change not only affects the climate system, but also poses challenges to maintaining ecological balance. When facing climate challenges, countries should also establish a more scientific evaluation system that not only relies on absolute emissions, but also pays attention to per capita emissions and their potential impact on the climate. Failure to change consumption patterns or reduce emission projections by 2050 will result in irreversible disaster.“The real environmental heroes may be those countries and individuals who have performed outstandingly in reducing per capita emissions.”
By promoting renewable energy, countries and businesses must work together to move towards a more sustainable direction. At the same time, governments should also realize that global climate problems cannot be solved by policies or technologies alone, and that they also need to mobilize the participation of the entire society to form a consensus and take action. **The conclusion is that everyone can be an environmental influencer, and we need to ask ourselves: What changes can we make in our daily lives to reduce our carbon footprint? **"In the face of the climate crisis, we must rethink our past behavior patterns and find ways to create an environmentally friendly life."
