EU Joint Research Centre records 53.2 Gt global emissions in 2024

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre reported global GHG emissions reached a record 53.2 Gt CO2eq in 2024, with India recording the largest absolute increase of 164.8 Mt CO2eq. Indian businesses should anticipate more aggressive carbon pricing and supply-chain reporting as NDC deadlines approach.

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) released its 2025 science-for-policy report, revealing global GHG emissions reached a record 53.2 Gt CO2eq in 2024, excluding land use and forestry, the highest since tracking began in 1970. Total emissions rose 1.3% versus 2023, equivalent to 665 million tonnes of CO2eq. Fossil CO2 dominated at 74.5% of anthropogenic output, followed by methane at 17.9%, nitrous oxide at 4.8% and fluorinated gases at 2.8%, with F-gases up four-fold since 1990.

The report names the six largest emitters: China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia and Indonesia, collectively 61.8% of global emissions and 51.4% of population. India recorded the largest absolute increase in 2024, adding 164.8 Mt CO2eq, while Indonesia showed the highest relative rise at nearly 5%. The EU27 decoupled emissions from growth, at nearly 35% below 1990 levels (about 3.2 Gt CO2eq). International aviation emissions rose 7.6%, and wildfires in the Americas added 2.1 Gt CO2eq.

Businesses and investors must prepare for heightened regulatory scrutiny as 107 countries representing 82% of global emissions move to codify net-zero pledges into law, per the source. With the 2025 deadline for new 2035 NDC targets approaching, market players should anticipate more aggressive carbon pricing mechanisms and supply-chain reporting requirements aligned with the Paris Agreement's transparency framework. Indian entities, given India's largest absolute emissions increase, should monitor strengthened Nationally Determined Contributions and prepare for intensifying decarbonisation expectations across operations and value chains.

Key figure — Record emissions: 53.2 Gt CO2eq globally in 2024 (excluding land use and forestry)