Previous Year Question
Today the largest contributor to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is:
A.
China
B.
Japan
C.
Russia
D.
U.S.A.
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is China.
At the time the question was asked, China had become the world's largest contributor to CO₂ emissions, surpassing the United States in total annual emissions.
The major reasons for China's high CO₂ emissions were its enormous energy consumption, heavy dependence on coal, large-scale industrial production and rapidly expanding electricity generation.
It should be noted that total national emissions and per capita emissions are different concepts. A country having the highest total emissions does not necessarily mean that it also has the highest emissions per person.