Explore - Climate TRACE
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Faster, more-effective decarbonization starts with detailed knowledge of emissions sources.
Climate TRACE represents a detailed database of human-caused emissions from all major sources—from power plants and oil refineries to rice cultivation, cement production, and shipping. This emissions inventory is tied to direct observations of emissions sources, and reveals opportunities for meaningful action to mitigate the climate impacts of specific activities.
Sectors
Greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.
emissions
contributor
89.74billion tonnes
22.82%of total global emissions
subsector
Electricity generation Power plant
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from thermal power plants from all major fuel sources including coal, natural gas, fuel oil, diesel, biomass, and incinerated waste.
source
methodology
Power sector emissions are estimated by first assembling a global geolocated inventory of power plants, generation, and metered emissions data. Machine learning models then predict power plant generation from satellite images. These predictions are aggregated and combined with available generation data and carbon intensity factors to derive emissions estimates.
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10.97billion tonnes
2.79%of total global emissions
subsector
Other energy use
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions arising from fuel combustion that are not included in any other subsector.
source
methodology
EDGAR energy subsectors were subtracted from Climate TRACE electricity generation to derive "other energy use" for years 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
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Greenhouse gas emissions from cement, aluminum, steel, and other manufacturing processes.
emissions
contributor
1.21billion tonnes
0.31%of total global emissions
subsector
Aluminum Aluminum plant
definition
Direct greenhouse gas emissions released from alumina refining and aluminum smelting processes.
source
methodology
Aluminum emissions were estimated by determining each individual plant’s contribution to the national aluminum capacity, which was used to estimate the plant’s share of country aluminum production. Relevant emissions factors for the plant were applied to derive emissions for a given year.
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17.53billion tonnes
4.46%of total global emissions
subsector
Cement Cement plant
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions released during the manufacture of cement, including both the emissions released during the chemical reaction to create the main component of cement (clinker), as well as the emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.
source
methodology
Cement emissions are estimated by combining modeling with satellite imagery and plant-level capacity to generate asset-level cement production. The asset-level cement production values are calibrated against country-level production. Finally, plant-level emission factors are applied to derive total emissions.
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3.85billion tonnes
0.98%of total global emissions
subsector
Chemicals
definition
Direct greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacture of ammonia, methanol, and soda ash.
source
methodology
Ammonia emissions are estimated with a disaggregation method to determine a plant’s share of national capacity. Relevant emissions factors for the plant are applied to derive the emissions for a given year. Soda ash manufacturing emissions are derived from utilization rates obtained from country level data, split by natural and synthetic soda ash producing countries, and projected to plant level as a proxy for plant level production. Methanol manufacturing emissions are derived from average utilization rates by country projected to the plant level. Where data were unavailable, a relationship between country-level installed capacity and utilization rates was used to fill in gaps.
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0.63billion tonnes
0.16%of total global emissions
subsector
Pulp and paper
definition
Direct greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacture of pulp and paper products.
source
methodology
Pulp manufacturing emissions were estimated by determining each individual plant’s contribution to the national pulp capacity, which was used to estimate the plant’s share of national production. Relevant emissions factors for the plant were applied to derive emissions for a given year.
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Methodology (country)
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17.08billion tonnes
4.34%of total global emissions
subsector
Steel Steel plant
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions released during the manufacturing of crude steel. Indirect emissions from electricity usage are not included.
source
methodology
Steel emission estimates use two subgroups: (1) Blast furnace, basic oxygenation furnace, and open hearth furnace plants are modeled with satellite imagery and plant-level capacity to generate asset-level production calibrated against country-level production; and (2) electric furnace plants use a disaggregation model to compute their national capacity share.
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27.59billion tonnes
7.01%of total global emissions
subsector
Other manufacturing
definition
Emissions from combustion of fuels as well as by-product or fugitive emissions from industrial processes for all other manufacturing subsectors.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR derived after subtracting manufacturing subsectors directly covered by Climate TRACE. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
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Greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production, refining, and coal mining.
emissions
contributor
8.85billion tonnes
2.25%of total global emissions
subsector
Coal mining Coal mine
definition
Fugitive methane emissions from coal mining, and post-mining activities of commercially operating mines and carbon dioxide emissions from on-site fuel combustion for coal extraction, handling, and logistics.
source
methodology
At the country level, a statistical model was constructed using historic data going back 10 years from 2007-2018 based on verified production statistics and forecasting forward to derive 2021 data, before apply relevant emissions factors. Asset-level estimates from Global Energy Monitor.
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36.94billion tonnes
9.39%of total global emissions
subsector
Oil and gas production and transport Oil + gas field
definition
Fugitive and exhaust emissions from flaring, venting combustion, and non-combustion related processes during oil and gas exploration, production, processing, and transport of crude oil, gas, and liquefied natural gas.
source
methodology
Oil and gas field- and basin-level carbon dioxide and methane emissions are estimated with the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator (OPGEE) Model. Inputs include a number of oil and gas field characteristics, including satellite-derived flaring volumes. Field-level estimates are summed and scaled to country-level on an annual basis.
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7.82billion tonnes
1.99%of total global emissions
subsector
Oil and gas refining Refinery
definition
Fugitive and exhaust emissions from combustion-related processes of crude oil refining.
source
methodology
Oil refining emissions are estimated with the Petroleum Refinery Life-Cycle Inventory Model (PRELIM). PRELIM estimates energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with processing various crude oil types for different refinery configurations. Inputs include refinery locations, configurations, and crude refining throughputs to generate GHG intensities and absolute emissions by country.
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Methodology (country)
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6.48billion tonnes
1.65%of total global emissions
subsector
Solid fuel transformation
definition
Fugitive methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacture of secondary and tertiary products from solid fuels.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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4.85billion tonnes
1.23%of total global emissions
subsector
Other fossil fuel operations
definition
Fugitive and exhaust emissions from all remaining fossil fuel operation activities.
source
methodology
EDGAR energy subsectors were subtracted from Climate TRACE fossil fuel operations to derive "other energy use" for annual emissions from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
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Greenhouse gas emissions from on-road vehicles, aviation, shipping, railways and other modes of transportation.
emissions
contributor
2.03billion tonnes
0.52%of total global emissions
subsector
Domestic aviation Airport
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fuels in domestic commercial, cargo, private flights, and general aviation.
source
methodology
Historical flight status data for all passenger and freight flights is combined with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s methodology to estimate emissions from flights within one country between 2015 to 2021.
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3.38billion tonnes
0.86%of total global emissions
subsector
International aviation Airport
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fuels in international commercial, cargo, private flights, and general aviation.
source
methodology
Historical flight status data for all passenger and freight flights is combined with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s methodology to estimate emissions from flights within one country between 2015 to 2021.
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0.73billion tonnes
0.19%of total global emissions
subsector
Railways
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fuels in both freight and passenger trains.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
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41.71billion tonnes
10.61%of total global emissions
subsector
Road transportation Roads
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fuels in all road vehicles.
source
methodology
Country level data derived from EDGAR; estimates available from 2015 to 2021. Asset-level estimates derived from a hybrid machine-learning based model that combines satellite and region-specific emissions factors.
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Methodology (country)
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4.82billion tonnes
1.23%of total global emissions
subsector
Shipping Ship
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fuels in international and domestic voyages of vessels greater than 300 tonnes.
source
methodology
Shipping estimates are estimated using Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) transmissions from vessels, which is combined with vessel characteristics. The estimation method is based on audited emissions reported to the European Union. Values for 2015-2017 were backfilled from 2018 estimates and adjusted based on the overall trend in emissions reported in the 4th IMO Report. Values for all years were adjusted to compensate for vessels not included in the model.
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2.38billion tonnes
0.61%of total global emissions
subsector
Other transport
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from all remaining transport activities.
source
methodology
EDGAR transportation subsector emissions were subtracted from Climate TRACE road transportation, railways, shipping, and aviation emissions to derive "other transport" for annual emissions from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
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Greenhouse gas emissions from the growing of crops and livestock for food and raw materials for non-food consumption.
emissions
contributor
1.91billion tonnes
0.48%of total global emissions
subsector
Cropland fires Crop fires
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of agricultural residue burned on site. Emissions are gross (not net) as they do not include the carbon sink associated with vegetation regrowth.
source
methodology
Estimation of crop fire emissions uses an empirical relationship with inputs from satellite-derived datasets and vegetation-specific combustion and emissions factors. Crop residue fires are identified within a country, emissions estimated, and aggregated to the country-level for total greenhouse gas emissions.
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Methodology (country)
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19.55billion tonnes
4.97%of total global emissions
subsector
Enteric fermentation Cattle feedlot
definition
Methane emissions from digestive systems of cattle and other livestock.
source
methodology
Data compiled from FAOSTAT under the source category “Enteric fermentation”. Estimates are available from 2015 to 2019. 2019 values have been forward-filled for 2020 and 2021.
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2.75billion tonnes
0.70%of total global emissions
subsector
Manure Management Cattle feedlot
definition
Methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock manure decomposition.
source
methodology
Data compiled from FAOSTAT from the source category “Manure Management”. Estimates are available from 2015 to 2019. 2019 values have been forward-filled for 2020 and 2021.
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Methodology (country)
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6.29billion tonnes
1.60%of total global emissions
subsector
Rice Cultivation Rice field
definition
Methane emissions from the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in paddy fields.
source
methodology
Methane emissions for 23 countries estimated by identifying rice growing areas using satellite-based mapping; estimates available from 2015 to 2021. For other countries, data from FAOSTAT for years 2015-2019; 2020 and 2021 have been forward-filled using projection models.
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Methodology (country)
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3.02billion tonnes
0.77%of total global emissions
subsector
Synthetic fertilizer application Crop field
definition
Direct nitrous oxide emissions from the application of synthetic fertilizers in agricultural soils.
source
methodology
Direct N2O emissions from synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied to crops are calculated based on crop area, crop yields and estimated crop-specific Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). NUE is used as proxy for N fertilizer applied to different crops. The estimated synthetic nitrogen applied to crops is converted to total N2O emissions at country scale using emission factors.
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6.56billion tonnes
1.67%of total global emissions
subsector
Other agricultural soil emissions
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from manure left on pasture, crop residues, and drained organic soils.
source
methodology
Data compiled from FAOSTAT for emissions from manure left on pasture, crop residues, and drained organic soils. FAOSTAT data available from 2015-2019. Remaining years were forward filled with projection models.
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Methodology (country)
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Greenhouse gas emissions from onsite fuel combustion in residential, commercial and institutional buildings.
emissions
contributor
24.79billion tonnes
6.30%of total global emissions
subsector
Residential and commercial onsite fuel usage
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. Indirect emissions from buildings (i.e., electricity) are not included.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
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year, delayed
1.49billion tonnes
0.38%of total global emissions
subsector
Other onsite fuel usage
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion in stationary and mobile sources not otherwise specified.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR's category "Non-Specified". Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
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Greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste disposal on land, wastewater, waste incineration and any other waste management activity.
emissions
contributor
0.09billion tonnes
0.02%of total global emissions
subsector
Biological treatment of solid waste
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from composting and anaerobic digestion of organic waste, such as food waste, garden (yard) and park waste, and sludge.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
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year, delayed
0.43billion tonnes
0.11%of total global emissions
subsector
Incineration and open burning of waste
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of solid and liquid waste in controlled incineration facilities, as well as in nature (open-air) or in open dumps.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
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year, delayed
7.25billion tonnes
1.84%of total global emissions
subsector
Solid Waste Disposal Disposal site
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the treatment and disposal of municipal, industrial, and other solid waste. Electricity generation facilities are excluded from this subsector.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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9.44billion tonnes
2.40%of total global emissions
subsector
Wastewater Treatment and Discharge
definition
Methane emissions from the treatment and disposal of wastewater from domestic, commercial, and industrial sources.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
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Greenhouse gas emissions and removals from change in living biomass due to clearing, degradation and fires in forests, grasslands and wetlands.
emissions
contributor
17.00billion tonnes
4.32%of total global emissions
subsector
Net Forest & Mangrove Carbon Stock Change - living biomass Forest
definition
Emissions and removals of CO2 from living biomass in forest and mangrove lands. Positive emissions are considered commited (source) emissions to the atmosphere and negative emissions corresponds to carbon sequestration (sink) from the living biomass.
source
methodology
Net emissions from the forestry sector was derived by first estimating annual total live carbon biomass (TLB, Mg CO2e) in forest vegetation from above ground biomass (AGB) and below ground biomass (BGB). AGB was estimated in machine learning models using a combination of LIDAR, SAR, and, multispectral remote sensing datasets, which was used to derive BGB using allometric models. These approaches were applied to years 2015 to 2021. Then net changes (emissions) in carbon stock between years was calculated by subtracting current year's TLB from the previous year's TLB.
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-4.31billion tonnes
-1.10%of total global emissions
subsector
Net Grassland Carbon Stock Change - living biomass Grassland
definition
Emissions and removals of CO2 from living biomass in grasslands and shrublands. Positive emissions are considered commited (source) emissions to the atmosphere and negative emissions corresponds to carbon sequestration (sink) from the living biomass.
source
methodology
Net emissions from the grassland sector was derived by first estimating annual total live carbon biomass (TLB, Mg CO2e) in grass and schrub vegetation from above ground biomass (AGB) and below ground biomass (BGB). AGB was estimated in machine learning models using a combination of LIDAR, SAR, and, multispectral remote sensing datasets, which was used to derive BGB using allometric models. These approaches were applied to years 2015 to 2021. Then net changes (emissions) in carbon stock between years was calculated by subtracting current year's TLB from the previous year's TLB.
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Methodology (country)
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data frequency
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-0.09billion tonnes
-0.02%of total global emissions
subsector
Net Wetland Carbon Stock Change - living biomass wetland
definition
Emissions and removals of CO2 from living biomass in wetlands. Positive emissions are considered commited (source) emissions to the atmosphere and negative emissions corresponds to carbon sequestration (sink) from the living biomass.
source
methodology
Net emissions from the wetland sector was derived by first estimating annual total live carbon biomass (TLB, Mg CO2e) in wetland vegetation from above ground biomass (AGB) and below ground biomass (BGB). AGB was estimated in machine learning models using a combination of LIDAR, SAR, and, multispectral remote sensing datasets, which was used to derive BGB using allometric models. These approaches were applied to years 2015 to 2021. Then net changes (emissions) in carbon stock between years was calculated by subtracting current year's TLB from the previous year's TLB.
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Methodology (country)
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Greenhouse gas emissions from the release of fluorinated gases used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, transport, and industry.
emissions
contributor
8.12billion tonnes
2.06%of total global emissions
subsector
Fluorinated gases
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases in mobile and stationary air conditioning systems and other industries.
source
methodology
Data from EDGAR. Estimates available from 2015 to 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
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Greenhouse gas emissions from mining and quarrying of minerals and ores.
emissions
contributor
0.01billion tonnes
0.00%of total global emissions
subsector
Bauxite mining
definition
Emissions from energy usage in bauxite mining activities.
source
methodology
Bauxite-mining emissions are derived from total production at yearly, country-level scale using a minimum of 10 years of production data (2007-2018) and forecasted through 2021. Emissions factors are applied based on the ore quality within a country and the energy required to extract based on surface proximity. Asset level emissions were estimated using statistical and reported information on mine-level production combined with emission factors based on mine type, extraction method and fuel properties to estimate CO2 emissions.
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Methodology (country)
Methodology (asset)
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0.15billion tonnes
0.04%of total global emissions
subsector
Copper mining
definition
Emissions from energy usage in copper mining activities.
source
methodology
Copper mining emissions are derived from total production at yearly, country-level scale using a minimum of 10 years of production data (2007-2016) and forecasted through 2021. Emissions factors are applied based on the ore quality within a country and the energy required to extract based on surface proximity. Asset level emissions were estimated using statistical and reported information on mine-level production combined with emission factors based on mine type, extraction method and fuel properties to estimate CO2 emissions.
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Methodology (country)
Methodology (asset)
data frequency
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0.12billion tonnes
0.03%of total global emissions
subsector
Iron mining Iron mind
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage in iron mining activities.
source
methodology
Iron mining emissions are derived from total production at yearly, country-level scale using a minimum of 10 years of production data (2007-2016) and forecasted through 2021. Emissions factors are applied based on the ore quality within a country and the energy required to extract based on surface proximity. Asset level emissions were estimated using statistical and reported information on mine-level production combined with emission factors based on mine type, extraction method and fuel properties to estimate CO2 emissions.
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Methodology (country)
Methodology (asset)
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0.07billion tonnes
0.02%of total global emissions
subsector
Rock quarrying
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy usage for mining limestone, granite, and marble.
source
methodology
Rock-quarry emissions are derived from total production inventories at yearly, country-level scale using a minimum of 10 years of production data (2007-2016) and forecasted through 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
Updated every
year
0.02billion tonnes
0.01%of total global emissions
subsector
Sand quarrying
definition
Greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction of sand and gravel and used in the construction industry.
source
methodology
Sand-quarry emissions are derived from total production inventories at yearly, country-level scale using a minimum of 10 years of production data (2007-2016) and forecasted through 2021.
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Methodology (country)
data frequency
Updated every
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