Cumulative CO2 Emissions
Data, Graphs, and Maps
Grades6-APEarth and Space Sciences, Geography, Mathematics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Our World in Data
What it is
- This interactive resource allows students to explore a map, chart, and data table of the cumulative amount of CO2 emissions for various countries.
- This takes into account the total emissions produced by fossil fuels and cement production, with data beginning in 1750.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This allows students to visually see the emissions build-up over time and see the relative change in emissions for various countries.
Additional Prerequisites
- Note that this resource only provides data for fossil fuels and cement production, but if you include all sources of greenhouse gas pollution, different countries show up higher on the list in recent history, see the CO2 Data Explorer.
- Students should know how to read a map and line graph.
- Students should be familiar with the term relative change.
- All of the data and visuals can be downloaded.
Differentiation
- This resource could be incorporated into social studies classes when discussing economic resources for global climate solutions that take into account historic emissions.
- Students can compare emissions from low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income countries to explore issues of justice related to emission levels.
- Other resources that are directly related to this issue include the CO2 Data Explorer and Annual CO2 Emissions.
From the scientist review
The resource contains historical cumulative CO2 data from 1751, although updated to 2019. It is relevant for students to explore and gain perspectives from different countries.
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Hosted on ourworldindata.org
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