The video discusses the impact of human activities on climate change, particularly the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide. It highlights that since the industrial revolution, humans have released over 1.5 trillion tons of CO2 into the Earth's atmosphere. In 2019, we were still pumping out around 37 billion more, which is 50% more than the year 2000 and almost three times as much as 50 years ago.
The video also emphasizes that the consequences of climate change have become more serious and visible, with more heatwaves, melting glaciers, and the lowest amount of ice ever recorded at the North Pole. It suggests that the only way to limit this rapid climate change is to decrease our collective emissions quickly.
The video then delves into a discussion about who is responsible for climate change and CO2 emissions. It points out that developed countries argue that emissions by the West are lifestyle emissions, while for developing countries, they are survival emissions. The video also mentions that others call rich countries hypocrites that got rich by polluting without restraint and now expect others not to industrialize and stay poor.
The video then presents data on which countries emit the most CO2. In 2017, China was the world's largest emitter with 10 billion tons of CO2 every year, followed by the USA and the European Union. Together, these three industrial blocks are responsible for more than half of the world's CO2 emissions.
The video also discusses the question of which countries have emitted the most in total throughout history until today. The US and the EU both knock China off the top spot, with the US responsible for 25% of the world's historical emissions.
The video concludes by discussing which countries emit the most CO2 per person. Australians have one of the highest carbon footprints per person, with 17 tons a year, more than triple the global average. The video also mentions that the average German emits more than five times as much as the average Indian in just 2.3 days.
The video ends with a call to action, emphasizing that everyone needs to do the best they can to reduce emissions and prevent severe climate change. It mentions that the video is part of a series about climate change supported by Breakthrough Energy, a coalition founded by Bill Gates, that is working to expand clean energy investment and support the innovations that will lead the world to net zero carbon emissions.
1. Since the industrial revolution, humans have released over 1.5 trillion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the earth's atmosphere.
2. In 2019, we were still pumping out around 37 billion more CO2 than in 2000, which is almost three times as much as 50 years ago.
3. We're not just pumping out CO2, but also growing volumes of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.
4. Combining all of our greenhouse gases, we're emitting 51 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents each year.
5. Emissions keep rising, but they need to get down to zero.
6. In recent years, the consequences of climate change have become more serious and visible, with more heatwaves, glaciers melting, and the lowest amount of ice ever recorded at the North Pole.
7. The only way to limit this rapid climate change is to decrease our collective emissions quickly.
8. Although all countries agree on this goal in principle, they do not agree who is responsible or who should bear the heaviest load.
9. The developed countries point at their own efforts to reduce emissions and the fact that the large developing countries on the rise, especially China, are currently releasing much more CO2.
10. Developing countries argue that emissions by the West are lifestyle emissions while for developing countries they are survival emissions.
11. In 2017, humans emitted about 36 billion tons of CO2, with more than 50 percent coming from Asia, North America, and Europe.
12. China is by far the world's largest emitter with 10 billion tons of CO2 every year or 27 of global emissions.
13. The USA and the European Union are also significant emitters, contributing more than half of the world's CO2 emissions.
14. Without the willingness and action of these three industrial blocks, humanity will not be able to become carbon neutral and prevent severe climate change.
15. The average human is responsible for around 5 tons of CO2 each year.
16. The countries with the largest CO2 emissions per person are some of the world's major oil and gas producers.
17. In 2017, Qatar had the highest emissions at a hefty 49 tonnes per person, followed by Trinidad and Tobago, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
18. Australians have one of the highest carbon footprints per person, 17 tons a year, that's more than triple the global average.
19. The average German emits more than five times as much as the average Indian in just 2.3 days.
20. In just 2.3 days, the average American emits as much as the average Nigerian in a year.
21. The richest half of countries are responsible for 86 percent of global emissions and the bottom half for only 14 percent.
22. The average German emits more than five times as much as the average Indian in just 2.3 days.
23. In just 2.3 days, the average American emits as much as the average Nigerian in a year.
24. The richest countries have the resources, highly educated workforces, and technology to develop low-cost low-carbon solutions.
25. The cost of renewables is falling quickly and a variety of solutions are on the horizon for many different sectors.
26. The rich countries of the West would follow if they decide to seriously tackle rapid climate change.
27. China is the largest CO2 emitter today, and it's China's responsibility to grow in a way that will make it possible to transition to a zero-carbon world in time.
28. Climate change is a global problem and no country alone can fix it.
29. Everybody needs to do the best they can, and right now we are all not doing that.
30. But we can begin today.