What is the industry sector’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions?

Industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions play a major role in climate change. But what portion actually comes from industry? Answering this question is surprisingly tricky due to varying classifications of what exactly constitutes the industrial sector. Moreover, data limitations, particularly in developing countries, make it difficult to measure these emissions precisely.

In short, here’s our conclusion:

Industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with direct industrial emissions responsible for over 21 per cent of the global total, and nearly 31 per cent when factoring in indirect emissions from electricity use. Industrial emissions have nearly doubled since 1990. The iron, steel, cement, and chemical sectors are the primary sources of industrial CO₂ emissions, contributing 71 percent. This makes these sectors important targets for emission reduction efforts.

 

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