Trillionth Tonne

Estimated cumulative emissions from fossil fuel use, cement production and land-use change since industrialization began are

tonnes of carbon.

To keep the most likely global warming caused by these sources of carbon dioxide to about 2°C, we need to keep the total emissions over time below about 1,000,000,000,000 tonnes of carbon.

Based on the emission trends over the past 20 years, we predict the trillionth tonne will be emitted on

We would not release the trillionth tonne if emissions were to start falling now at

To keep a three in four chance of global warming remaining below 2°C, we need to keep the total carbon dioxide emissions over time below about 750,000,000,000 tonnes of carbon.

Based on the emission trends over the past 20 years, we predict the 750-billionth tonne will be emitted on

We would not release the 750-billionth tonne if emissions start falling now at

This site is hosted by the Oxford e-Research Centre with data provided by the Department of Physics, University of Oxford.

Design by Richard Hawkins.