GL
Environment · Europe & Central Asia · High income
Greenland: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 10.45 t (2024), 20th of 203 in the world and 6th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG per person is 11.60 t (2024), 25th of 203 in the world and 6th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG emissions is 0.7 Mt (2024), 176th of 203 in the world and 47th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.
CO₂ per person
GreenlandEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
GHG per person
GreenlandEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
11 indicators
Environment: Greenland in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 10.45 t2024 | 20/203 | 6/49 | 0.02 t | 11.37 t | 9.36 t | +22%since 2014 | 6.62 t | 9.75 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 11.60 t2024 | 25/203 | 6/49 | 1.06 t | 12.52 t | 10.50 t | +20%since 2014 | 8.65 t | 12.50 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 0.7 Mt2024 | 176/203 | 47/49 | 0.1 Mt | 0.7 Mt | 0.6 Mt | +21%since 2014 | 7,953.3 Mt | 17,426.5 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 0.6 Mt2024 | 172/203 | 48/49 | 0.0 Mt | 0.6 Mt | 0.5 Mt | +24%since 2014 | 6,082.4 Mt | 13,596.6 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 0.1 Mt2024 | 181/203 | 47/49 | 0.1 Mt | 0.1 Mt | 0.1 Mt | +0.3%since 2014 | 1,278.5 Mt | 2,534.1 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 11.7%2022 | 137/212 | 43/54 | 9.2% | 10.1% | 11.8% | +1.6 ppsince 2012 | 15.1% | 12.8% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 77.0%2021 | 35/206 | 10/51 | 94.4% | 64.1% | 74.3% | +11.3 ppsince 2011 | 34.4% | 26.7% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 1.6 µg/m³2023 | 200/200 | 52/52 | 1.5 µg/m³ | 2.0 µg/m³ | 1.7 µg/m³ | −10%since 2013 | 14.4 µg/m³ | 13.0 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 0.0%2024 | 211/214 | 55/57 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | ±0.0 ppsince 2014 | 38.6% | 36.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 0.6%2024 | 209/210 | 55/55 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | ±0.0 ppsince 2014 | 29.1% | 28.2% | 36.9% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 22.6%2025 | 50/213 | 19/55 | · | · | 22.4% | +0.2 ppsince 2015 | 13.2% | 22.2% | 17.0% |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Renewable energy+1.6 pp11.7% in 2022
- Renewable power+11.3 pp77.0% in 2021
- PM2.5 exposure−10%1.6 µg/m³ in 2023
- Protected areas+0.2 pp22.6% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person+22%10.45 t in 2024
- GHG per person+20%11.60 t in 2024
- GHG emissions+21%0.7 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions+24%0.6 Mt in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Greenland and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Greenland. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Greenland | Canada | Norway | Iceland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 10.45 t2024 | 14.01 t2024 | 7.18 t2024 | 8.52 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 11.60 t2024 | 18.61 t2024 | 9.65 t2024 | 11.08 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 0.7 Mt2024 | 768.1 Mt2024 | 53.8 Mt2024 | 4.3 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 0.6 Mt2024 | 578.0 Mt2024 | 40.0 Mt2024 | 3.3 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 0.1 Mt2024 | 133.1 Mt2024 | 8.8 Mt2024 | 0.5 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 11.7%2022 | 23.8%2021 | 61.4%2021 | 82.4%2021 |
| Renewable power | 77.0%2021 | 67.0%2021 | 99.1%2021 | 100.0%2016 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 1.6 µg/m³2023 | 6.6 µg/m³2023 | 5.5 µg/m³2023 | 4.9 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 0.0%2024 | 42.0%2024 | 33.2%2024 | 0.6%2024 |