Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, and Houston Leading Emitters of Greenhouse Gases
A new dataset released at the United Nations climate talks reveals that cities in Asia and the United States are the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Shanghai tops the list of polluting cities, followed closely by Tokyo, New York, and Houston. The data, compiled by Climate Trace using advanced observations and artificial intelligence, highlights the urgent need for global action to combat climate change.
Top Polluting Cities
Global Trends in Emissions
Other Pollutants
| Summary/Static | Details |
| Why in the news? | Shanghai Tokyo New York Houston spew most greenhouse gas of world cities |
| Top Polluting Cities | – Shanghai: 256 million metric tons, more than Colombia or Norway. – Tokyo: 250 million metric tons, comparable to top 40 nations. – New York City: 160 million metric tons, ranked in the global top 50. – Houston: 150 million metric tons, also in the top 50. – Seoul: 142 million metric tons, ranked fifth among cities. |
| Global Emissions | – Total emissions: 61.2 billion metric tons (2023), a 0.7% increase from 2022. – Methane emissions: 0.2% increase, highly potent in trapping heat. |
| High-Emission Regions | – Seven states or provinces emit over 1 billion metric tons; six in China, one in Texas. – Permian Basin, Texas: The worst individual polluting site globally. |
| Emission Trends | – Largest Increases: China, India, Iran, Indonesia, and Russia (2022–2023). – Largest Decreases: Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. |
| Other Pollutants | Tracks carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds associated with dirty air. |
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