Colonial rule makes the Dutch the biggest per capita historical emitters

Cumulative CO2 emissions 1850-2023, tonnes per head of current population

Within own borders

From former territories

Reallocated to colonial power*

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Netherlands

UK

Russia

US

Canada

Belgium

Germany

Australia

Austria

Trinidad

and Tobago

Cumulative CO2 emissions 1850-2023, tonnes per head of current population

Within own borders

From former territories

Reallocated to colonial power*

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Netherlands

UK

Russia

US

Canada

Belgium

Germany

Australia

Austria

Trinidad

and Tobago

Guardian graphic. Source: Carbon Brief. *Emissions previously allocated to a colonised country but now reassigned to the colonising country for the period of colonisation