What percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions does Liechtenstein produce?
Liechtenstein produces 0.01% of global emissions, and has been ranked the world’s 182nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases since 1990. Since this date, their annual emissions have decreased by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.1%.
Summary – GHG Emissions in Liechtenstein
| Country | Liechtenstein |
|---|---|
| Population | 38.3k | Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in USD | $6.43bn |
| Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2019 | 164k |
| Change in Emissions since 2018 | 4.1% |
| Percentage of Total Emissions (2019) | 0.01% |
| Rank – Emitters in 2019 | 187 |
| Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions since 1990 | 6.8m |
| Compound Annual Growth – Emissions since 1990 | -1.1% |
| Percentage of Total Emissions (1990-2019) | 0.01% | GDP Per Capita (USD) | $168k |
| Emissions Per Capita | 4.3 |
In the last recorded year (2019), Liechtenstein was the world’s 187th largest producer of yearly carbon dioxide emissions and contributed 0.01% of all global emissions. The top three emitters in the same period were China, the United States, and India. These three nations produced 25.2%, 12%, and 7% of global emissions respectively.
In 2019, Liechtenstein emitted 164k metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or MtCO₂e. This represented an increase in emissions from 2018 by 4.1%.
Emissions per capita in Liechtenstein – average household carbon footprint
The population of Liechtenstein is 38.3k. On a per capita basis, they produce 4.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per person. This places them 113th out of 191 on emissions produced per capita. The top three emitters per capita are Solomon Islands, Qatar, and Kuwait.
What is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Liechtenstein?
In 2019, Liechtenstein produced 164k metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This was an increase of 4.1% from 2018. 90.7% of these emissions came from CO2, 1.6% came from CH4, and 0.53% came from N2O.
The sector that produced the most emissions in 2019 was the energy industry. Energy produced 150k of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This amounted to 91.4% of total GHG in Liechtenstein. The second and third largest emitting sectors were industrial processes and waste– producing 7.3% and 1.3% of total GHG respectively.
Energy
The industry that produced the most energy related emissions was the fugitive emissions sector, emitting 1.17k tonnes of greenhouse gas.
Land Use Change and Forestry
Land use change and forestry (LUCF), such as deforestation and conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural or urban areas, can have a significant impact on carbon emissions.
- Trees and other vegetation absorb and store carbon through the process of photosynthesis, and when they are cut down or burned, that stored carbon is released into the atmosphere.
- Deforestation and other forms of land use change can also reduce the ability of ecosystems to absorb and store carbon in the future. Additionally, the conversion of land for agriculture or urban development can lead to the release of carbon stored in the soil.
- On the other hand, sustainable forestry practices, such as reforestation and afforestation, can help to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in trees and other vegetation.
In the case of Liechtenstein, their LUCF had no impact on their emissions.
After accounting for land use change and forestry, the total amount of greenhouse emissions in Liechtenstein in 2019 was 164k metric tonnes.
Is there a correlation between greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth?
In 2019, gross domestic product (GDP) in Liechtenstein declined by -4% from the previous year. Measured in US dollars, the economy went from $6.69bn to $6.43bn. In the same period carbon emissions increased by 4.1%. Over a ten year period from 2009 to 2019, GDP grew by 42.7%, while emissions have decreased by -33.9%.
To put this into context, the compound annual growth rate of GDP in Liechtenstein over the previous ten years was 3.6% and the CAGR for greenhouse gas emissions was -4.1%.