Less than 200 years ago there was hardly any CO2 in the atmosphere.

In
the mid-1700s, the Industrial Revolution, driven by the burning of fossil
fuels, started a process that would have serious repercussions for the world
we live in today.
The biggest emitters
Although industrialization came late to China, it now emits more CO2 than
any other country. Excluding emissions from international aviation and
shipping, China was responsible for more than 29% of global CO2
emissions in 2016.

As the chart below shows, China’s share of global CO2 emissions was
almost double that of the US, the next-largest polluter. In 2016 the US
accounted for more than 15% of the total, and India almost 7%. Together,
these three economies generate more than half of the world’s CO2
emissions.

With the exception of Russia, Japan and Germany, other countries each
accounted for less than 2% of global emissions. Energy-rich nations like
Canada, Saudi Arabia and Iran each generated between 1.6% and 1.9%,
while the remaining countries’ shares were less than 1.5% each.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is known as a greenhouse gas (GHG)—a gas that
absorbs and emits thermal radiation, creating the 'greenhouse effect'.
Along with other greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide and methane,
CO2 is important in sustaining a habitable temperature for the planet: if
there were absolutely no GHGs, our planet would simply be too
cold. temperature of the Earth would be about -18 degrees celsius.

CO2 emissions by fuel source

Carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy and industrial production

can come from a range of fuel types. The contribution of each of these
sources has changed significantly through time, and still shows large
differences by region. In the chart below we see the absolute and relative
contribution of CO2 emissions by source, differentiated between gas, liquid
(i.e. oil), solid (coal and biomass), flaring, and cement production.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by sector

 Energy (energy, manufacturing and construction industries and

fugitive emissions): emissions are inclusive of public heat and
electricity production; other energy industries; fugitive emissions from
solid fuels, oil and gas, manufacturing industries and construction.
 Transport: domestic aviation, road transportation, rail transportation,
domestic navigation, other transportation.
 International bunkers: international aviation; international
navigation/shipping.
 Residential, commercial, institutional and AFF: Residential and
other sectors.
 Industry (industrial processes and product use): production of
minerals, chemicals, metals, pulp/paper/food/drink, halocarbons,
refrigeration and air conditioning; aerosols and solvents;
semicondutor/electronics manufacture; electrical equipment.
 Waste: solid waste disposal; wastewater handling; waste incineration;
other waste handling.
 Agriculture: methane and nitrous oxide emissions from enteric
fermentation; manure management; rice cultivation; synthetic
fertilizers; manure applied to soils; manure left on pasture; crop
 residues; burning crop residues, savanna and cultivation of organic
soils.
 Land use: emissions from the net conversion of forest; cropland;
grassland and burning biomass for agriculture or other uses.
 Other sources: fossil fuel fires; indirect nitrous oxide from non-
agricultural NOx and ammonia; other anthropogenic sources.