From: user7160@newsgrouper.org.invalid   
      
   On 2/17/26 1:02 PM, Julian wrote:   
   > Cui bono?   
      
   meta had a decent answer:   
      
   Responsibility for the increase in  is usually viewed through three   
   different lenses: **Geographic** (which countries), **Historical** (who   
   started it), and **Corporate** (which industries).   
      
   As of early 2026, the data provides a clear breakdown for each:   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 1. The Geographic Lens: Who is emitting now?   
      
   Current emissions are driven by the world’s largest economies and most   
   populous nations.   
      
   * **China:** The world’s largest current emitter, responsible for   
   roughly **29-32%** of global annual . This is largely due to its massive   
   manufacturing sector and continued reliance on coal to power its rapid   
   industrial growth.   
   * **United States:** The second-largest annual emitter at approximately   
   **12-14%**. While U.S. emissions have been slowly declining for a   
   decade, it remains the leader in **per capita** emissions among major   
   economies.   
   * **India:** Currently the third-largest emitter (~7%), with emissions   
   rising as the country expands its infrastructure and energy access for   
   1.4 billion people.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 2. The Historical Lens: The "Legacy" Carbon   
      
   Because  stays in the atmosphere for centuries, the warming we feel   
   today is caused by the *cumulative* emissions since the 1750s.   
      
   * **The United States and Europe:** Together, they are responsible for   
   about **half of all historical ** emissions.   
   * **The "Developed" World:** Until very recently (around 2005), the U.S.   
   was the top annual emitter every year since the late 1800s. This "head   
   start" is why many developing nations argue that wealthier countries   
   bear a "historical responsibility" to lead on climate finance.   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 3. The Corporate Lens: The "Carbon Majors"   
      
   A small number of companies are responsible for the vast majority of   
   fossil fuel production. A 2024–2026 update to the "Carbon Majors" report   
   found that just **100 fossil fuel and cement producers** are linked to   
   over **70%** of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions since 1988.   
      
   ### Top Emitting Entities (2024-2026 Data)   
      
   | Category | Top Entities | Notable Fact |   
   | --- | --- | --- |   
   | **State-Owned** | Saudi Aramco, Gazprom, National Iranian Oil | State   
   companies produced over 50% of global  in 2024. |   
   | **Investor-Owned** | ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP | These companies   
   are often targeted in climate litigation for their historical roles. |   
   | **Coal Giants** | Coal India, China (Coal) | Coal remains the single   
   largest source of  globally. |   
      
   ---   
      
   ## 4. The Sector Lens: Where is it coming from?   
      
   If you look at "what" we are doing rather than "who" is doing it, the   
   responsibility breaks down by economic activity:   
      
   * **Energy (Electricity & Heat):** ~73% (The largest "slice" of the pie).   
   * **Agriculture & Land Use:** ~18% (Methane from livestock and  from   
   deforestation).   
   * **Industry:** ~5% (Direct emissions from chemical and cement production).   
      
    > **Summary:** Responsibility is a mix of **Western historical   
   legacy**, **Asian current industrial power**, and the **fossil fuel   
   industry** that provides the energy for both.   
      
   **Would you like to see how "Per Capita" emissions change the picture?   
   (For example, how much the average person in the U.S. emits compared to   
   someone in India or China?)**   
      
   --   
   hi, i'm nick! let's end war 🙃   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)