Which Countries Are the Top 5 Carbon Emitters?

Videos

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Geography

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Council on Foreign Relations

Open Resource

What it is

This short video uses compelling images of climate change impacts to present the top five nations in 2018 contributing to global carbon emissions.
The video lists a few reasons for each country's large contribution to annual carbon emissions.

Teaching tips

Positives

This video could be a great introduction to discussing the human causes of climate change.
The images are striking.

Prerequisites

Students should be familiar with the concept of fossil fuel-driven economic growth.

Differentiation & Implementation

Consider having students guess which countries are the top five emitters before watching the video. Have them explain their thoughts and reasoning behind their predictions.
Have students generate a list of questions they are curious about as they watch the video (watching a few times through may be helpful). Then have students work in pairs to research and answer the questions.
Other resources related to this topic include Which Countries are Historically Responsible for Climate Change? and Energy Use Per Person.
Some students may benefit from having the text read out loud to them.

From the scientist review

This resource explores the top five carbon emitters in the world. It explains how population and economic growth are causing CO2 levels to further increase. This is insightful and recommended for teaching.

How we review resources

Ready to use it?

Hosted on cfr.org

Open Resource

Want this to fit your class?

Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.

At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Council on Foreign Relations
Authors: Thamine Nayeem, Council on Foreign Relations
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-ESS3-4. + 25 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-ESS3-4.MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
D2.Geo.11.9-12D2.Geo.11.9-12 Evaluate how economic globalization and the expanding use of scarce resources contribute to conflict and cooperation within and among countries.
D2.Geo.9.9-12D2.Geo.9.9-12 Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales.
MS-ESS3-D.MS-ESS3-D. Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

New Jersey Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

RL.MF.6.6RL.MF.6.6 Compare and contrast information or texts to develop a coherent understanding of a theme, topic, or issue when reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

Oregon Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

6.RI.76.RI.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
HS.G.GR.1:HS.G.GR.1: Use geographic tools, various kinds of maps, and geospatial technologies to examine geographic components of past and current world events or to solve geographic problems.
HS.G.HI.8:HS.G.HI.8: Identify examples of conflict and cooperation involving the use of land and natural resources.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

R.6.7R.6.7 Compare and contrast how different formats, including print and digital media, contribute to the understanding of a subject. (RI&RL)
SS.Geog3.a.hSS.Geog3.a.h Evaluate, in both current and historical contexts, how the prospect of gaining access to resources in contested zones creates competition among countries. Assess how and why consumption of resources (e.g., petroleum, coal, electricity, steel, water, food) differs between developed and developing countries now and in the past.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Maine Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

GeographyGeography 1 (D2): Students understand the geography of the United States and various regions of the world and the effect of geographic influences on decisions about the present and future by using inquiry to predict and evaluate consequences of geographic influences.

New York Climate Education Hub

New York Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

6R7:6R7: Compare and contrast how different formats, including print and digital media, contribute to the understanding of a subject. (RI&RL)

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
MW.Geo.9.a.MW.Geo.9.a. Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on contemporary human migration, settlement patterns, resource use, and land use at local-to-global scales (e.g., heat waves, desertification, loss of biodiversity, fish migration, irrigation, wildfires).
MW.Geo.11.a.EvaluateMW.Geo.11.a.Evaluate how economic globalization and the expanding use of scarce resources has led to conflict and cooperation within and among nations and international organizations (e.g., Role of International Monetary Fund austerity policy in Jamaica, 2003 invasion of Iraq, Annexation of Crimea, African Union, Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, International Group of Seven).
MS-ESS3-4.MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
MS-ESS3-D.MS-ESS3-D. Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities. (MS-ESS3-5)

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

RI.6.7.RI.6.7. Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Illinois Climate Education

Illinois Climate Education Standards legacy

RI.6.7.RI.6.7. Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
SS.9-12.G.12.SS.9-12.G.12. Evaluate how short- and long-term climate variability affects human migration and settlement patterns, use of land and resources, and relationship with the land.
SS.9-12.G.17.SS.9-12.G.17. Evaluate how competition for scarce natural resources contributes to conflict and cooperation within and among countries.
MS-ESS3-4.MS-ESS3-4. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
MS-ESS3-5.MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Cookie Preferences

What it is

Teaching tips

From the scientist review

Ready to use it?

Want this to fit your class?

Related Teaching Resources