Climate TRACE reported that global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the month of January 2026 totaled 5.3 billion tonnes CO₂e. This represents an increase of 0.3% vs. January 2025. Global methane emissions in January 2026 were 33.5 million tonnes CH₄, a decrease of 1.3% vs. January 2025.

Data tables summarizing GHG and primary particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions totals by sector, country, and the top 100 urban areas for January 2026 are available for download here.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Country: January 2026

Climate TRACE’s preliminary estimate of January 2026 emissions in China, the world’s top emitting country, is 1.5 billion tonnes CO₂e, an increase of 4.1 million tonnes of CO₂e, or 0.3% vs. January 2025.

Of the other top five emitting countries:

• United States emissions declined by 11.8 million tonnes CO₂e, or 1.9% year over year;

• India emissions increased by 1.6 million tonnes CO₂e, or 0.4% year over year;

• Russia emissions declined by 1.6 million tonnes CO₂e, or 0.6% year over year;

• Indonesia emissions declined by 0.3 million tonnes CO₂e, or 0.2% year over year.

In the EU, which as a bloc would be the fourth largest source of emissions in January 2026, emissions increased by 10.5 million tonnes CO₂e compared to January 2025, or 3.2%.

Data on all other countries are available in our Country Inventory.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector: January 2026

Greenhouse gas emissions increased in January 2026 vs. January 2025 in buildings, transportation, and waste, and decreased in fossil fuel operations, manufacturing, and power. Buildings saw the greatest change in emissions year over year, with emissions increasing by 3.6% as compared to January 2025.

• Agriculture emissions were 563.9 million tonnes CO₂e, unchanged vs. January 2025;

• Buildings emissions were 521.0 million tonnes CO₂e, a 3.6% increase vs. January 2025;

• Fluorinated gases emissions were 145.0 million tonnes CO₂e, unchanged vs. January 2025;

• Fossil fuel operations emissions were 830.5 million tonnes CO₂e, a 2.4% decrease vs. January 2025;

• Manufacturing emissions were 859.1 million tonnes CO₂e, a 0.1% decrease vs. January 2025;

• Mineral extraction emissions were 17.2 million tonnes CO₂e, unchanged vs. January 2025;

• Power emissions were 1,416.9 million tonnes CO₂e, a 0.4% decrease vs. January 2025;

• Transportation emissions were 792.3 million tonnes CO₂e, a 2.8% increase vs. January 2025;

• Waste emissions were 170.3 million tonnes CO₂e, a 0.2% increase vs. January 2025.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by City: January 2026

The urban areas with the highest total GHG emissions in January 2026 were Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; New York, United States; Los Angeles, United States; and Houston, United States.

The urban areas with the greatest increases in absolute emissions in January 2026 as compared to January 2025 were Anshan, China; Moscow, Russia; Fukuyama, Japan; Anpara, India; and UNNAMED, India. Those with the largest absolute emissions declines between this January and last January were Baotou, China; Songyuan, China; Louxing, China; Nagoya, Japan; and Cincinnati, United States.

The urban areas with the greatest increases in emissions as a percentage of their total emissions were Butibori, India; Karewa, Cameroon; Uruguaiana, Brazil; Chukai, Malaysia; and Sobradinho, Brazil. Those with the greatest decreases by percentage were Macherla, India; Iligan, Philippines; Monclova, México; Louxing, China; and Gushiegu, Ghana.