Carbon Emissions Comparison

ABC

Australia has set a target to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 26 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.
Australia is the world's 13th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide and the highest emitter per capita among the top 15.
It has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.
In July, the Climate Change Authority said if the Australian Government was to do its fair share to keep the 2C commitment, it would need to reduce emissions by 40 to 60 per cent by 2030, based on the level of emissions from the year 2000.
That translates to an emissions reduction of 45 to 65 per cent from the levels of the year 2005.
The Climate Action Tracker group says current policies "will result in emissions increasing by 12 to 18 per cent above 2000 emissions levels".
The countries mapped here are the top 15 emitters of carbon dioxide, according to 2011 data from the World Resources Institute.
China is the world's top emitter in total and of the top 15 emitters, Australia is the largest emitter per capita.
Who has set what emissions reduction targets?
Over the past year, countries have been announcing their emissions reductions targets for beyond the end of the decade, summarising the positions they intend to commit to at the United Nations' Paris climate summit in December.
The pledges also form part of a commitment to keep global temperatures from rising 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times (1880).
Currently, temperatures have risen by 0.85C between 1880 and 2012, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
In July, the Climate Change Authority said if the Australian Government was to do its fair share to keep the 2C commitment, it would need to reduce emissions by 40 to 60 per cent by 2030, based on the level of emissions from the year 2000.
This translates to an emissions reduction of 45 to 65 per cent from the levels of the year 2005.

Notes:

• The top end of Australia's target range of 26 per cent to 28 per cent has been included.
• The US target is for a 26 per cent to 28 per cent reduction based on 2005 levels, however its longer-term target is for an 83 per cent reduction by 2050 based on 2005 levels. Based on this, the Climate Institute estimates the 2030 target will need to be 41 per cent based on 2005 levels.
• The UK has committed to reduce emissions by at least 80 per cent in 2050 based on 1990 levels. Based on this, the Climate Institute estimates the 2030 target will need to be 48 per cent based on 2005 levels.

How do emissions compare?