'We're only 1% of emissions' – analysis finds claims in countries emitting fifth of global CO2

These countries, covered in the new analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), together account for more than 21% of global CO2 emissions – more than the United States (12.7%) and India (8.3%) combined [1,2].

These 27 countries are home to 1.85 billion people and spread across all six inhabited continents [3]. Examples of these claims were also found in national newspapers in Russia, Japan, Indonesia and Iran, which each account for between 2 and 5% of global emissions. If these countries are added to the 27, the claims are found in countries totalling 32.3% of global emissions – a figure which is higher than that of China, the world’s biggest emitter, at 31.8%

It comes as new polling by YouGov for ECIU reveals 6 in 10 (60%) Brits believe countries emitting less than 1% of global CO2 should continue trying to reduce their emissions. When prompted with additional information that all nations emitting less than 1% of emissions add up to the same as China, the proportion calling for action to reduce emissions increased to two-thirds (66%), with 36% saying they ‘definitely should’.[4] 

Dr. Ella Gilbert, PhD, FRMetS, climate scientist and presenter, said: “The climate crisis is a global problem – and every country should be acting to reduce emissions and build a greener global economy, especially those with the largest historical responsibility, like the UK. The climate doesn’t care where carbon comes from – whether from multiple countries responsible for smaller proportions of emissions, or China. 

“The science is clear, curbing emissions by reaching net zero is only way to restore our climate and avoid dangerous tipping points. The UK may account for just 1% of current global emissions, but we're responsible for 100% of our own emissions, and we have the opportunity to show global leadership by bringing them down. 

“Reaching net zero will generate new green jobs, boost the economy, restore natural environments for people to enjoy, improve our health and wellbeing, and allow us to live safer and happier lives." 

The analysis found almost 50 examples of articles in UK national newspapers which referred to the UK’s share of global emissions at less than 1% – over half of these (26 out of 48) appeared in the Daily Telegraph. The highest number of articles including the claim was found in Australia, with just under 60 references across the top national newspapers. Published letters to the editor were not included in the sample, despite the phrase also appearing frequently in some outlets’ letters pages. 

The figure of UK emissions representing less than 1% of the global total was also cited over a dozen times in the Houses of Parliament last year, according to searches of Hansard.[5] 

Baroness Joanna Penn, Conservative Peer and former Treasury and Housing and Local Government Minister, said: “Climate change is a global problem that requires collective action and that means the UK playing our part. This is not just about international leadership – from energy security, to the jobs of the future, and the very clear impact of climate change already on our day-to-day lives in the UK – we need to be clear that it is in our strategic interests to take action.” 

Gareth Redmond-King, Head of International at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said: “Polling consistently shows British people are worried about climate change and support action to tackle it. But they get that no one country can do this alone; everyone needs to play their part. The science is clear that reaching net zero emissions is the only way to bring balance back to our climate and stop climate change. As of now 84% of the global economy is covered by a commitment to net zero and it’s become a global economic race to adopt the clean technologies to do that.  

“The UK has outsized influence globally and, with investment in offshore wind, we helped start that race in the 2010s. As the first major economy to commit to a net zero target, we helped speed things up. And now, with net zero industries responsible for the livelihoods of more than a million workers in the UK, other industries are shifting to get into the race – such as the three large car plants retooling to manufacturer electric vehicles.[6] 

“The longer it takes to reach net zero emissions, the more we will see dangerous extremes, like flooding and drought. And the more we risk hitting tipping points such as the collapse of Atlantic currents that would leave the UK much colder and struggling to grow food. Rowing back on net zero commitments now would not only make that more likely, but would also send a dangerous signal out into the world.” 

China has represented the largest share of global CO2 emissions since 2006, now standing at nearly a third (31.8%) of the global total according to the latest available data from 2024. However, its emissions may be peaking: government data published in February 2026 show China’s CO2 emissions from energy and industry fell by 0.3% last year, which analysts suggest is the first time a fall in China’s emissions has been driven predominantly by clean energy growth.[7] Further analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, also published in February 2026, suggested that China’s total emissions likely declined by 0.3% in 2025.[8] 

Countries representing around 1% (between 0 and 2%) of global emissions with articles mentioning its proportion of emissions are: Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, United Kingdom, Italy, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Thailand, France, Taiwan, Egypt, Pakistan, Philippines, Argentina, Kuwait, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Colombia, Peru, and Morocco.