CO2 Emissions per Capita: Vanuatu

Analysis# Vanuatu CO2 Emissions per Capita Vanuatu's per capita CO2 emissions reached 0.87 metric tons in 2024, positioning the Pacific island nation as a minimal contributor to global emissions. This figure sits well below its 1974 peak of 1.216 metric tons but substantially above its 1999 low of 0.294 metric tons. Over the full 54-year period from 1970 to 2024, emissions have declined just 0.1%, revealing a largely flat long-term trajectory despite significant short-term volatility. Recent years show a pronounced upward shift. Between 2015 and 2021, emissions climbed 59%, rising from 0.598 to 0.951 metric tons—the highest point since the mid-1980s. The subsequent stabilization around 0.85–0.87 metric tons from 2022 onward suggests a potential plateau, though emissions remain elevated relative to the nation's 2015 baseline. This rising trend reflects increased economic activity and energy consumption rather than systematic decarbonization efforts.