Two Worlds

TWO WORLDS

Cause and Effect

The countries that have emitted the most greenhouse gases—those that have played a larger role in causing the climate crisis—tend to be least vulnerable to its impacts. Conversely, the countries with the lowest emissions—those that have contributed least to global warming—are already most ravaged by the crisis and most vulnerable to it going forward.

CUMULATIVE EMISSIONS

This map, based on work by Global Carbon Budget, shows each country's share of all carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution. While there are about 200 countries in the world, only one falls into the highest emissions category of 15-25%: the US, which is responsible for more than 24% of total carbon emissions.

CLIMATE VULNERABILITY

This map, based on work by the University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, shows how vulnerable every country is to the harmful impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, wildfires, floods, droughts, and sea level rise. It also captures countries' ability to respond. Sudan, Haiti, and Bangladesh are among the most vulnerable. What countries are least so?

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Introduction

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USA Climate Impacts