This figure shows an estimate of how efficiently the world’s 20 largest economies convert fossil fuel usage into wealth as expressed by the ratio of their gross domestic product (calculated by the method of purchasing power parity in U.S. dollars) over the number of kilograms of fossil fuel carbon released into the atmosphere each year. The relatively narrow range of variation between most countries in this figure suggests that the pursuit of wealth in the present world is strongly tied to the availability of fossil fuel energy sources.
As countries may be reluctant to combat fossil fuel emissions in ways that cause economic decline, this figure serves to suggest the degree to which different large economies can decrease emissions through short-term improvements in efficiency and alternative fuel programs.
The two countries that produce the highest GDP per kilogram carbon, Brazil and France, are heavily reliant on alternative energy sources, hydroelectric and nuclear power, respectively.
