Country
CO2 Emissions (tons of carbon dioxide)
2012 population

Emissions per Capita

China
8,782,000,000
1,359,750,000



United States
5,144,000,000
316,597,000


India
2,185,000,000
1,233,460,000

Russia

1,646,000,000
143,400,000


Japan
1,232,000,000
127,310,000

Germany
733,000,000
80,523,700

Iran
583,000,000
76,876,000

South Korea
576,000,000
50,219,669


Indonesia
535,000,000
237,641,326

Canada
528,000,000
35,141,542
Are total emissions or per-capita emissions a better gauge when comparing the CO2 emissions of various countries? Why?
Consider a country with only 100 people. What do you think their total emissions would be?
To determine whether total emissions or per-capita emissions are a better gauge when comparing the CO2 emissions of various countries, we need to understand the implications of both measurements.
Total emissions represent the overall amount of CO2 emitted by a country. It reflects the scale of their economic activities, industrialization, energy consumption, and population. However, solely looking at total emissions doesn't consider the size or population of the country. Larger countries are bound to have higher total emissions due to their population and economic activities.
Per-capita emissions, on the other hand, calculate the average emissions per person in a country. This measurement helps to understand the individual impact of each citizen on CO2 emissions. Per-capita emissions consider factors like lifestyle, energy consumption, transportation, and industrialization. It provides a more accurate analysis of the carbon footprint of each person within a country, regardless of their size or population.
Therefore, when comparing CO2 emissions of various countries, per-capita emissions can be a better gauge because it considers the individual impact rather than solely focusing on the size or total emissions. It helps to provide a fair assessment of the level of carbon emissions generated by each citizen, irrespective of the country's population.