North America accounted for close to half of the rise in global CO2 emissions in 2025, underscoring the region's outsized climate impact and potential policy pressure
Executive summary: The Energy Institute's 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy reported that North America contributed nearly half of the increase in global CO2 emissions in 2025. This underscores the region's disproportionate impact on climate change and may trigger stricter regulatory scrutiny and shifts in energy investment.
Who is involved: Energy Institute, Ember, KPMG, Kearney, and policymakers across the United States and Canada.
Likely next: Governments may consider new emissions reduction measures, while investors could reassess exposure to high‑carbon assets in North America.
The Energy Institute’s 2026 Statistical Review of World Energy, produced with Ember, KPMG and Kearney, shows that North America drove nearly 50% of the increase in global emissions last year. This highlights the region's disproportionate contribution to climate change relative to its share of global population and economic output. The finding may intensify scrutiny from regulators and investors focused on carbon-intensive industries in the United States and Canada.
Timeline
- — North America Drove Nearly Half Of Global Emissions Growth In 2025 (OilPrice)
- — Iran War Strengthens the Case for Renewables and Storage (OilPrice)
- — UAE Oil Production Nears Record High After OPEC Exit (OilPrice)
- — The Colorado River Crisis Is Reaching a Breaking Point (OilPrice)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Potential introduction of stricter emissions standards in the US and Canada.
- Increased corporate disclosure of scope 1 and 2 emissions.
- Accelerated funding for carbon capture and renewable projects.
Sectors affected
- Energy
- Utilities
- Transportation
- Heavy industry
Regulatory implications
- Review of EPA emissions reporting rules.
- Enhanced climate-related financial disclosure requirements.
Sources
- North America Drove Nearly Half Of Global Emissions Growth In 2025 — OilPrice
- Iran War Strengthens the Case for Renewables and Storage — OilPrice
- UAE Oil Production Nears Record High After OPEC Exit — OilPrice
- The Colorado River Crisis Is Reaching a Breaking Point — OilPrice
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