Shanghai Tops List in Greenhouse Gas Emissions with 256 Million Metric Tons

Data released at the Conference of Parties, COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan Republic, has revealed that Shanghai is the top city when it comes to producing greenhouse gases. According to Climate Trace's annual data, seven states or provinces emitted over 1 billion metric tons of these gases, with six of them in China and Texas, US coming in sixth place on this list. The report noted significant increases in emissions from countries like China, India, Iran, Indonesia, and Russia, while Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the UK, and the US saw decreases.

The organization, cofounded by former US Vice President Al Gore, highlighted the urgent need for action. A sizeable presence of fossil fuel industry lobbyists at the climate summit raised concerns among environmental groups and activists. Efforts by oil executives at the summit, including Total, BP, Equinor, and Shell, to invest $500 million to expand sustainable modern energy sources was met with mixed reactions due to these conflicting interests.

To address the pressing climate crisis, a new finance target of at least $1 trillion annually must be agreed upon by richer countries, development lenders, and the private sector. An independent panel of experts warned that failing to invest over $6 trillion per year by 2030 could lead to higher costs in the future. Concerns about the world's inability to regulate planet-warming fossil fuels and curb emissions continue to grow, leading to frustration among climate officials and activists alike.

Using observations and artificial intelligence, Climate Trace analyzed carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and traditional air pollutants in more than 9,000 urban areas worldwide. Shanghai stood out as the most polluting city, emitting 256 million metric tons of greenhouse gases. Tokyo, New York City, and Houston were also mentioned for their high emissions levels, all surpassing those of many nations. Notably, Permian Basin in Texas was singled out as one of the worst polluting sites globally.