Top Greenhouse Gas Emitting Cities and Global Trends
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in the news? | New data reveals Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, and Houston as the top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions among cities globally. |
| Top Polluting Cities | - Shanghai: 256 million metric tons (more than Colombia or Norway).- Tokyo: 250 million metric tons (comparable to top 40 nations).- New York City: 160 million metric tons.- Houston: 150 million metric tons.- Seoul: 142 million metric tons (ranked fifth). |
| Global Emissions | - Total emissions: 61.2 billion metric tons (2023), a 0.7% increase from 2022.- Methane emissions: 0.2% increase, highly potent in trapping heat. |
| High-Emission Regions | - Seven states/provinces emit over 1 billion metric tons each (six in China, one in Texas).- Permian Basin, Texas: World's worst individual polluting site. |
| Emission Trends | - Largest Increases: China, India, Iran, Indonesia, and Russia (2022-2023).- Largest Decreases: Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. |