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Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector

Data, Graphs, and Maps

Grades6-APChemistry, Earth and Space Sciences, Economics

This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Our World in Data
Open Resource

What it is

  • This interactive line graph and table shows greenhouse gas emissions by sector for individual countries and for the world, starting in 1990.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents (CO₂e) and the data presented can be customized, sorted, and downloaded.

Teaching tips

Positives

  • Hovering over the graph allows students to see a pop-up box with all of the details.
  • Students may choose to view data as the relative change instead of the measured data.
Additional Prerequisites
  • Learners need to be familiar with the concept of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Students should know how to read a line graph.
Differentiation
  • Have more advanced students work in groups to research what data is included in each sector, to identify all of the potential sources grouped into each category. Then have them brainstorm or research solutions that could reduce emissions in their sector that are currently available.
  • Math classes could use the data for lessons about data analysis, making graphs, and linear equations.
  • Social studies classes could use this data to investigate the drivers of greenhouse gas pollution in different countries over time and how it may be related to increases in development, economic output, and population growth.

From the scientist review

The resource examines various sectors of the economy that emits greenhouse gas. Datasets of emissions from manufacturing, construction energy, transportation, electricity, agriculture, fugitive emissions, etc. were expressed and normalized over a 100-year period to determine their CO2e. Students can explore to gain deep knowledge on emissions from these sectors. Above all, this resource is recommended for teaching.

How we review resources

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