In order to tackle the climate crisis, it’s important to determine priorities. These are the world’s most polluting industries – those it is crucial to decarbonize if we are to meet our climate goals.
By now, we all know greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming and the destabilization of our climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) regularly reminds us of the urgency of reducing carbon emissions to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. But what should be our priority?
Identifying the world’s most polluting sectors is a sure way to make the biggest dent in emissions in the shortest time frame.
What does it mean to be ranked as most polluting?
Being ranked as the most polluting signifies that a particular industry or sector holds a prominent position in terms of emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) and contributing significantly to the global carbon footprint. This ranking indicates that the operations within that sector release a substantial amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change and environmental degradation. Essentially, it reflects the industry’s impact on the planet’s health and underscores the urgency