The 40 Countries Decreasing Emissions the Fastest

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35. Singapore
> Total CO2 emissions change 2010-2020: -19.63%
> Total CO2 emissions change 1971-2020: 179.59% — #76 largest increase of 145 countries
> Total CO2 emissions 2020 in million tons: 45.54 — #57 largest of 145
> CO2 emissions per capita change 2010-2019: -0.57% — #65 largest decline of 144
> Total GHG emissions change: No data

After pledging to cut emissions by 16% by 2020 in 2009, in 2015 Singapore vowed to trim emissions by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030. The Asian city-state said in its Nationally Determined Contribution and Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy report in 2020 that it hopes to achieve “net zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century.”

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34. Cyprus
> Total CO2 emissions change 2010-2020: -19.80%
> Total CO2 emissions change 1971-2020: 244.89% — #67 largest increase of 145 countries
> Total CO2 emissions 2020 in million tons: 6.50 — #123 largest of 145
> CO2 emissions per capita change 2010-2020: -24.76% — #25 largest decline of 144
> Total GHG emissions change: No data

Cyprus has shown improvements in GHG emissions. However, published reports in January 2020 said the Mediterranean island nation was unable to meet its 2020 GHG emissions target, according to the European Commission. The commission also said Cyprus was going to miss its 2030 target by 25 percentage points. Electricity and transport are two sectors that generate the most emissions, the commission said.

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33. Slovak Republic
> Total CO2 emissions change 2010-2020: -20.00%
> Total CO2 emissions change 1971-2020: -39.08% — #15 largest decline of 145 countries
> Total CO2 emissions 2020 in million tons: 30.75 — #75 largest of 145
> CO2 emissions per capita change 2010-2020: -23.78% — #35 largest decline of 144
> Total GHG emissions change: No data

The Slovak Republic’s fourth biennial report on GHG emissions said the central European nation has decreased its emissions by about 13% between 2008 and 2017.

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32. Ireland
> Total CO2 emissions change 2010-2020: -20.21%
> Total CO2 emissions change 1971-2020: 48.37% — #97 largest increase of 145 countries
> Total CO2 emissions 2020 in million tons: 33.37 — #71 largest of 145
> CO2 emissions per capita change 2010-2020: -25.90% — #24 largest decline of 144
> Total GHG emissions change: No data

As a member of the European Union, Ireland is committed to the EU’s overall GHG emissions targets. The island nation is aiming to cut emissions by 51% by 2030. The country wants to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050. Ireland’s plan to reduce air pollution is outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2021.

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31. Latvia
> Total CO2 emissions change 2010-2020: -20.83%
> Total CO2 emissions change 1971-2020: -59.36% — #4 largest decline of 145 countries
> Total CO2 emissions 2020 in million tons: 6.78 — #118 largest of 145
> CO2 emissions per capita change 2010-2020: -13.09% — #54 largest decline of 144
> Total GHG emissions change: No data

The Baltic nation’s transport ministry has set a goal for the transportation sector to cut GHG emissions by 18% by 2023 and by 23% by 2027. There are doubts Latvia can meet those goals, given that 86% of its road transport are private vehicles. The nation is also getting inundated with diesel vehicles from nations looking to shift to greener transportation options.