Who’s Really Heating the Planet? The Ultimate Breakdown of Global Carbon Emissions by Sector

As we are in the heat of London Climate Action Week (June 22–30, 2025), here’s what you need to know about the industries driving climate change — and the likely and unlikely heroes who could lead us to Net Zero.

The Problem Isn’t the Planet — It’s Us

When we talk about climate change, we often focus on the consequences — floods, fires, rising seas, and the toll on vulnerable people and ecosystems.

But climate change isn’t something the planet is doing to us.

It’s something we’re doing to the planet.

Carbon emissions are not a problem caused by the Earth — they’re caused by us.

To fix it, we need to go beyond symptoms and start targeting the source.

That means understanding exactly where emissions come from — and which sectors must transform if we’re serious about a Net Zero future.

So ahead of London Climate Action Week, let’s break down 100% of global emissions by sector — and explore the likely and unlikely heroes who could lead the transformation.

1. Energy Production – ~40% of Global Emissions

The largest driver of climate change.

• Fossil fuels dominate electricity, heat, and industrial energy.

• But energy workers and clean tech pioneers are driving the transition to solar, wind, storage, and hydrogen.

Could utility engineers become the architects of a fossil-free grid?

2. Agriculture & Land Use – ~24% of Global Emissions

A major, often overlooked source of emissions — from deforestation, methane, and fertilizers.

• Regenerative farming, reforestation, and soil restoration are powerful tools for carbon removal.

• Farmers, agroecologists, and land stewards could be at the heart of the solution.

Could the people who grow our food also restore the planet?

3. Industry & Manufacturing – ~21% of Global Emissions

Includes steel, cement, chemicals, and production of goods.

• These materials are emissions-intensive and hard to decarbonise — but innovation is happening fast.

• Green industrial leaders are redesigning factories and creating closed-loop systems.

Could factories become net-zero engines of the future?

4. Transportation – ~15% of Global Emissions

Oil-fueled movement of people and goods — on land, sea, and air.

• The future is electric, shared, and smart.

• EV makers, transport designers, and aviation disruptors are changing the game.

Could how we move define how we decarbonize?

5. Buildings & Construction – ~6% (operational) of Global Emissions , up to 40% (with materials)

Heating, cooling, and electricity make up part — but building materials like cement and steel massively boost the footprint.

• Sustainable architects, urban planners, and green material makers are shaping the low-carbon cities of tomorrow.

Could every building become a climate solution?

Looking Beyond Sectors in Isolation

It’s also worth noting that when we talk about carbon emissions, we can’t view sectors in isolation. The global economy is deeply interconnected, and many industries have their emissions footprint spread across multiple sectors.

Take fashion as an example:

• Agriculture & Land Use: growing fibers like cotton or raising livestock for wool and leather

• Industry & Manufacturing: textile production, dyeing, and finishing

• Transportation: global shipping and distribution

• Retail & Consumer Use: energy use in stores, washing, and eventual disposal

We also need to take into account three factors that can change how we look at a sector’s emissions and the figures related to it:

1. Overlapping Boundaries

Some sectors share responsibility for the same emissions. For example:

• Emissions from shipping clothing can be counted under both transportation and fashion/apparel.

• Cement used in buildings may fall under industry, construction, or both.

2. Different Methodologies

Various sources (like the IPCC, IEA, or UN bodies) use slightly different definitions of sector boundaries. Some include indirect emissions (like energy used to manufacture products in another country), while others don’t.

3. Embodied vs Operational Emissions

An example is the building and construction sector, where emissions can be split into:

• Operational emissions (from using the building): heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances in buildings (~6% globally)

• Embodied emissions (from making the materials): emissions from the production of materials like cement, steel, and glass, adding roughly another 30-35%

  When both are counted, construction’s footprint grows to ~40% — but some of that overlaps with the industry sector’s footprint (e.g. steel and cement production).

Understanding these overlaps is essential. Only by seeing the full picture — across supply chains and lifecycles — can we design systemic solutions that truly move the needle on climate change.

Final Thought: The Power Lies in Our Systems

Cutting emissions isn’t just about individual actions — it’s about system-wide, sectoral transformation. Every major source of emissions has its own set of challenges — but also its own frontline innovators, already working to reverse the damage.

From regenerative farmers and green energy engineers to clean tech entrepreneurs, low-carbon architects, and circular economy pioneers — change is already happening.

When we come together at local and global action gatherings like London Climate Action Week, the most powerful question we can ask is not “Who’s to blame?” but:

• Who is already leading the change?

• How can we support them, learn from their efforts, replicate what works, and scale it fast?

And just as importantly:

• What role can we play in the sector we work in?

• How can we start, support, or amplify the transition from where we stand?

Because the path to a livable, equitable future won’t be paved by blame — it will be built by bold collaboration, shared solutions, and everyone showing up with what they’ve got.