Emissions challenge accepted
One of the most debated issues in the global effort to reduce climate change is the relationship between emissions and GDP per capita. Some argue that economic growth inevitably leads to higher emissions, while others claim there is a possibility of decoupling emissions from income. Clearly there is a correlation between emissions and income, but that doesn’t mean countries must all follow the same trajectory. For instance, the US emits 16.5 tonnes of CO2 per capita and produces GDP per capita of USD 63,700. A country like Indonesia (4th largest by population) could one day reach the same level of GDP per capita but might do it with much lower emissions due to the availability of low-carbon energy production and better technologies in other areas.
Source: Global Carbon Budget, World Bank, Our World in Data, 2024.