Gap to the Best Grid: 155 Countries Matching Their Size Band's Median Would Have Avoided About 2,061 MtCO2, an Illustration

If every one of 155 countries had matched the median intensity of its size band, about 2,061 MtCO2 of power sector CO2 (14% of their 14,630 MtCO2) would have been avoided in 2024 or 2025. Matching the top quartile of its band: 5,463 MtCO2 (37%). Matching the cleanest grid in its band: 13,386 MtCO2 (92%). This is an illustration of scale, not a forecast. The biggest single contributors at the median are China (552 MtCO2), India (406 MtCO2) and Indonesia (121 MtCO2). Data as of 2025, Ember annual statistics.

Read the totals with care. This is an illustration of scale, not a forecast and not a target. It asks what emissions would have been in the latest year if every grid above a benchmark had matched it with the same generation. It ignores geography, hydro and geothermal resources, cost and the years a change would take, and the cleanest grid in a band often owes its position to unusual hydro or nuclear resources.

Of the 215 countries in the export, 155 are included. 60 were left out: 18 whose latest year is before 2024 and 42 that generated under 1 TWh. Each is measured in its own latest Ember year (2024 or 2025).

Avoidable at band median, 2024 or 20252,061 MtCO214% of 14,630 MtCO2

At top quartile of band5,463 MtCO237% of emissions

At cleanest grid of band13,386 MtCO292% of emissions

Already at or below median79 of 155countries

Key Facts

Illustration, not a forecast: if 155 countries had matched the median carbon intensity of their size band, about 2,061 MtCO2 of power sector CO2 (14% of their emissions) would have been avoided in 2024 or 2025.
Matching the top quartile of their band would have avoided 5,463 MtCO2 (37%); matching the cleanest grid in each band 13,386 MtCO2 (92%). These are an illustration of scale, not a forecast.
China has the largest avoidable total at the median, 552 MtCO2: 528 gCO2/kWh in 2025 against a median of 476 gCO2/kWh in its band of 200 TWh and over.
79 of 155 countries are already at or below the median of their size band.
1 to 10 TWh (47 countries): median 514 gCO2/kWh, top quartile 275 gCO2/kWh, cleanest grid Albania at 25 gCO2/kWh, dirtiest Kosovo at 906 gCO2/kWh.
10 to 50 TWh (53 countries): median 275 gCO2/kWh, top quartile 120 gCO2/kWh, cleanest grid Ethiopia at 23 gCO2/kWh, dirtiest Turkmenistan at 1,306 gCO2/kWh.
50 to 200 TWh (30 countries): median 335 gCO2/kWh, top quartile 160 gCO2/kWh, cleanest grid Norway at 28 gCO2/kWh, dirtiest Uzbekistan at 1,000 gCO2/kWh.
200 TWh and over (25 countries): median 476 gCO2/kWh, top quartile 334 gCO2/kWh, cleanest grid France at 41 gCO2/kWh, dirtiest Indonesia at 705 gCO2/kWh.
Peer groups are size bands of latest year generation: 1 to 10 TWh, 10 to 50 TWh, 50 to 200 TWh, 200 TWh and over.

The Benchmarks in Each Size Band

Ember, 2024 or 2025

For each size band of countries: the number of countries, median, top quartile, cleanest and dirtiest carbon intensity, total emissions, and the CO2 avoidable if every country in the band matched the median, the top quartile or the cleanest grid. An illustration, not a forecast. Column headings sort the table.
Size band (generation)	Countries	Median	Top quartile	Cleanest grid	Dirtiest grid	Emissions	Avoidable at median	Avoidable at top quartile	Avoidable at cleanest
1 to 10 TWh	47	514 gCO2/kWh	275 gCO2/kWh	Albania, 25 gCO2/kWh	Kosovo, 906 gCO2/kWh	89 MtCO2	14 MtCO2	41 MtCO2	84 MtCO2
10 to 50 TWh	53	275 gCO2/kWh	120 gCO2/kWh	Ethiopia, 23 gCO2/kWh	Turkmenistan, 1,306 gCO2/kWh	478 MtCO2	212 MtCO2	340 MtCO2	447 MtCO2
50 to 200 TWh	30	335 gCO2/kWh	160 gCO2/kWh	Norway, 28 gCO2/kWh	Uzbekistan, 1,000 gCO2/kWh	1,183 MtCO2	417 MtCO2	770 MtCO2	1,098 MtCO2
200 TWh and over	25	476 gCO2/kWh	334 gCO2/kWh	France, 41 gCO2/kWh	Indonesia, 705 gCO2/kWh	12,880 MtCO2	1,418 MtCO2	4,312 MtCO2	11,757 MtCO2

Illustration, not a forecast. The cleanest grid in a band often owes its position to large hydro or nuclear resources, so the last column is an upper bound for scale, not a plan. The median is the most defensible benchmark.

Where the Avoidable CO2 Is: The Ten Largest at the Median

MtCO2, 2024 or 2025

Power sector CO2 avoidable if the country matched the median intensity of its size band, in MtCO2, ten largest countries
China	552 MtCO2
India	406 MtCO2
Indonesia	121 MtCO2
Saudi Arabia	96 MtCO2
Iran	72 MtCO2
Kazakhstan	59 MtCO2
Uzbekistan	58 MtCO2
South Africa	54 MtCO2
Iraq	52 MtCO2
Taiwan	46 MtCO2

Every Country Against Its Peers

155 countries, 4 size bands

Illustration, not a forecast. Avoidable CO2 is what the latest year would have been if the country had matched the benchmark with the same generation. Countries at or below a benchmark avoid nothing.

Carbon intensity of each country against its size band, rank in the band (1 is cleanest), the band median, and the CO2 avoidable in the latest year at the median, the top quartile and the cleanest grid of the band. An illustration, not a forecast. Column headings sort the table.
Country	Latest year	Size band	Intensity	Rank in band	Band median	CO2 avoidable at median	CO2 avoidable at top quartile	CO2 avoidable at cleanest grid	Cleanest grid in band
🇨🇳 China	2025	200 TWh and over	528 gCO2/kWh	17 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	552 MtCO2	2,040 MtCO2	5,117 MtCO2	France
🇮🇳 India	2025	200 TWh and over	671 gCO2/kWh	22 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	406 MtCO2	701 MtCO2	1,310 MtCO2	France
🇮🇩 Indonesia	2025	200 TWh and over	705 gCO2/kWh	25 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	121 MtCO2	196 MtCO2	351 MtCO2	France
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	2025	200 TWh and over	680 gCO2/kWh	23 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	96 MtCO2	163 MtCO2	301 MtCO2	France
🇮🇷 Iran	2025	200 TWh and over	656 gCO2/kWh	21 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	72 MtCO2	128 MtCO2	245 MtCO2	France
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	2025	50 to 200 TWh	813 gCO2/kWh	29 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	59 MtCO2	81 MtCO2	98 MtCO2	Norway
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan	2025	50 to 200 TWh	1,000 gCO2/kWh	30 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	58 MtCO2	73 MtCO2	84 MtCO2	Norway
🇿🇦 South Africa	2025	200 TWh and over	699 gCO2/kWh	24 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	54 MtCO2	89 MtCO2	160 MtCO2	France
🇮🇶 Iraq	2024	50 to 200 TWh	683 gCO2/kWh	27 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	52 MtCO2	78 MtCO2	98 MtCO2	Norway
🇹🇼 Taiwan	2025	200 TWh and over	634 gCO2/kWh	20 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	46 MtCO2	87 MtCO2	171 MtCO2	France
🇵🇱 Poland	2025	50 to 200 TWh	591 gCO2/kWh	23 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	44 MtCO2	74 MtCO2	97 MtCO2	Norway
🇧🇩 Bangladesh	2025	50 to 200 TWh	696 gCO2/kWh	28 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	37 MtCO2	55 MtCO2	69 MtCO2	Norway
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan	2024	10 to 50 TWh	1,306 gCO2/kWh	53 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	34 MtCO2	39 MtCO2	42 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇵🇭 Philippines	2025	50 to 200 TWh	595 gCO2/kWh	24 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	32 MtCO2	54 MtCO2	70 MtCO2	Norway
🇩🇿 Algeria	2024	50 to 200 TWh	633 gCO2/kWh	25 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	29 MtCO2	46 MtCO2	58 MtCO2	Norway
🇲🇾 Malaysia	2025	200 TWh and over	606 gCO2/kWh	19 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	27 MtCO2	57 MtCO2	119 MtCO2	France
🇰🇼 Kuwait	2025	50 to 200 TWh	635 gCO2/kWh	26 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	27 MtCO2	43 MtCO2	54 MtCO2	Norway
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	2025	50 to 200 TWh	470 gCO2/kWh	18 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	25 MtCO2	57 MtCO2	81 MtCO2	Norway
🇧🇭 Bahrain	2024	10 to 50 TWh	902 gCO2/kWh	52 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	24 MtCO2	30 MtCO2	33 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇪🇬 Egypt	2025	200 TWh and over	557 gCO2/kWh	18 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	20 MtCO2	54 MtCO2	125 MtCO2	France
🇱🇾 Libya	2024	10 to 50 TWh	827 gCO2/kWh	51 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	19 MtCO2	24 MtCO2	28 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇷🇸 Serbia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	696 gCO2/kWh	49 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	15 MtCO2	21 MtCO2	24 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇭🇰 Hong Kong	2024	10 to 50 TWh	676 gCO2/kWh	48 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	15 MtCO2	21 MtCO2	24 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇲🇦 Morocco	2025	10 to 50 TWh	603 gCO2/kWh	44 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	14 MtCO2	21 MtCO2	26 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇶🇦 Qatar	2025	50 to 200 TWh	582 gCO2/kWh	22 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	14 MtCO2	24 MtCO2	32 MtCO2	Norway
🇮🇱 Israel	2025	50 to 200 TWh	493 gCO2/kWh	19 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	13 MtCO2	27 MtCO2	38 MtCO2	Norway
🇦🇺 Australia	2025	200 TWh and over	518 gCO2/kWh	15 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	12 MtCO2	53 MtCO2	136 MtCO2	France
🇴🇲 Oman	2025	50 to 200 TWh	541 gCO2/kWh	21 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	11 MtCO2	20 MtCO2	27 MtCO2	Norway
🇸🇾 Syria	2024	10 to 50 TWh	706 gCO2/kWh	50 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	11 MtCO2	15 MtCO2	17 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan	2025	10 to 50 TWh	639 gCO2/kWh	45 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	10 MtCO2	14 MtCO2	17 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇹🇭 Thailand	2025	200 TWh and over	526 gCO2/kWh	16 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	10 MtCO2	38 MtCO2	97 MtCO2	France
🇸🇬 Singapore	2025	50 to 200 TWh	497 gCO2/kWh	20 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	9.73 MtCO2	20 MtCO2	28 MtCO2	Norway
🇳🇬 Nigeria	2025	10 to 50 TWh	452 gCO2/kWh	35 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	7.50 MtCO2	14 MtCO2	18 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico	2025	10 to 50 TWh	656 gCO2/kWh	47 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	7.44 MtCO2	10 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇨🇺 Cuba	2024	10 to 50 TWh	643 gCO2/kWh	46 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	7.14 MtCO2	10 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇹🇳 Tunisia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	562 gCO2/kWh	42 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	6.41 MtCO2	9.89 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇯🇴 Jordan	2024	10 to 50 TWh	530 gCO2/kWh	40 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	6.02 MtCO2	9.71 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	2025	10 to 50 TWh	538 gCO2/kWh	41 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	5.94 MtCO2	9.47 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇨🇿 Czechia	2025	50 to 200 TWh	401 gCO2/kWh	17 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	4.96 MtCO2	18 MtCO2	28 MtCO2	Norway
🇲🇲 Myanmar	2024	10 to 50 TWh	502 gCO2/kWh	39 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	4.93 MtCO2	8.31 MtCO2	10 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇬🇭 Ghana	2024	10 to 50 TWh	469 gCO2/kWh	36 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	4.70 MtCO2	8.47 MtCO2	11 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina	2025	10 to 50 TWh	573 gCO2/kWh	43 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	4.32 MtCO2	6.59 MtCO2	7.99 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇰🇭 Cambodia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	499 gCO2/kWh	38 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	3.97 MtCO2	6.73 MtCO2	8.44 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇲🇳 Mongolia	2025	1 to 10 TWh	820 gCO2/kWh	44 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	2.98 MtCO2	5.31 MtCO2	7.75 MtCO2	Albania
🇧🇴 Bolivia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	481 gCO2/kWh	37 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	2.80 MtCO2	4.93 MtCO2	6.24 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇽🇰 Kosovo	2025	1 to 10 TWh	906 gCO2/kWh	47 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	2.29 MtCO2	3.69 MtCO2	5.16 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇽 Mexico	2025	200 TWh and over	481 gCO2/kWh	14 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	2.21 MtCO2	57 MtCO2	172 MtCO2	France
🇧🇳 Brunei	2024	1 to 10 TWh	893 gCO2/kWh	46 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	2.10 MtCO2	3.43 MtCO2	4.83 MtCO2	Albania
🇧🇾 Belarus	2025	10 to 50 TWh	315 gCO2/kWh	29 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	1.81 MtCO2	8.88 MtCO2	13 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇰🇵 North Korea	2024	10 to 50 TWh	341 gCO2/kWh	31 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	1.77 MtCO2	5.99 MtCO2	8.60 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇦🇷 Argentina	2025	50 to 200 TWh	346 gCO2/kWh	16 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	1.61 MtCO2	28 MtCO2	49 MtCO2	Norway
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	2024	1 to 10 TWh	681 gCO2/kWh	42 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	1.59 MtCO2	3.88 MtCO2	6.27 MtCO2	Albania
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	2025	10 to 50 TWh	352 gCO2/kWh	32 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	1.43 MtCO2	4.32 MtCO2	6.11 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire	2024	10 to 50 TWh	406 gCO2/kWh	34 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	1.40 MtCO2	3.08 MtCO2	4.12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇧🇼 Botswana	2024	1 to 10 TWh	852 gCO2/kWh	45 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	1.16 MtCO2	1.98 MtCO2	2.84 MtCO2	Albania
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	2024	10 to 50 TWh	384 gCO2/kWh	33 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	1.11 MtCO2	2.71 MtCO2	3.70 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo	2024	1 to 10 TWh	716 gCO2/kWh	43 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	1.10 MtCO2	2.40 MtCO2	3.77 MtCO2	Albania
🇭🇳 Honduras	2024	10 to 50 TWh	322 gCO2/kWh	30 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0.58 MtCO2	2.52 MtCO2	3.73 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇲🇺 Mauritius	2024	1 to 10 TWh	642 gCO2/kWh	39 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.44 MtCO2	1.25 MtCO2	2.10 MtCO2	Albania
🇬🇹 Guatemala	2024	10 to 50 TWh	301 gCO2/kWh	28 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0.41 MtCO2	2.87 MtCO2	4.39 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇾🇪 Yemen	2024	1 to 10 TWh	591 gCO2/kWh	35 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.40 MtCO2	1.66 MtCO2	2.97 MtCO2	Albania
🇧🇸 Bahamas	2024	1 to 10 TWh	652 gCO2/kWh	41 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.31 MtCO2	0.85 MtCO2	1.41 MtCO2	Albania
🇯🇲 Jamaica	2024	1 to 10 TWh	562 gCO2/kWh	32 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.24 MtCO2	1.41 MtCO2	2.64 MtCO2	Albania
🇸🇳 Senegal	2024	1 to 10 TWh	540 gCO2/kWh	29 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.20 MtCO2	2.02 MtCO2	3.93 MtCO2	Albania
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea	2024	1 to 10 TWh	643 gCO2/kWh	40 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.19 MtCO2	0.55 MtCO2	0.92 MtCO2	Albania
🇬🇾 Guyana	2024	1 to 10 TWh	642 gCO2/kWh	38 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.18 MtCO2	0.51 MtCO2	0.85 MtCO2	Albania
🇬🇺 Guam	2024	1 to 10 TWh	605 gCO2/kWh	37 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.17 MtCO2	0.61 MtCO2	1.08 MtCO2	Albania
🇳🇨 New Caledonia	2024	1 to 10 TWh	564 gCO2/kWh	33 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.16 MtCO2	0.90 MtCO2	1.68 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇱 Mali	2024	1 to 10 TWh	537 gCO2/kWh	28 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.14 MtCO2	1.56 MtCO2	3.05 MtCO2	Albania
🇧🇧 Barbados	2024	1 to 10 TWh	601 gCO2/kWh	36 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.10 MtCO2	0.36 MtCO2	0.64 MtCO2	Albania
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso	2024	1 to 10 TWh	561 gCO2/kWh	31 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.08 MtCO2	0.48 MtCO2	0.91 MtCO2	Albania
🇧🇯 Benin	2024	1 to 10 TWh	579 gCO2/kWh	34 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.07 MtCO2	0.31 MtCO2	0.56 MtCO2	Albania
🇦🇼 Aruba	2024	1 to 10 TWh	549 gCO2/kWh	30 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.03 MtCO2	0.27 MtCO2	0.52 MtCO2	Albania
🇬🇦 Gabon	2024	1 to 10 TWh	525 gCO2/kWh	27 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.03 MtCO2	0.65 MtCO2	1.30 MtCO2	Albania
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea	2024	1 to 10 TWh	516 gCO2/kWh	26 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.01 MtCO2	1.14 MtCO2	2.32 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇷 Mauritania	2024	1 to 10 TWh	515 gCO2/kWh	25 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0.00 MtCO2	0.50 MtCO2	1.01 MtCO2	Albania
🇦🇱 Albania	2025	1 to 10 TWh	25 gCO2/kWh	1 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	itself
🇦🇴 Angola	2024	10 to 50 TWh	185 gCO2/kWh	23 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	1.02 MtCO2	2.52 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇦🇲 Armenia	2025	1 to 10 TWh	244 gCO2/kWh	11 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	1.86 MtCO2	Albania
🇦🇹 Austria	2025	50 to 200 TWh	117 gCO2/kWh	6 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	6.49 MtCO2	Norway
🇧🇪 Belgium	2025	50 to 200 TWh	151 gCO2/kWh	8 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	8.88 MtCO2	Norway
🇧🇹 Bhutan	2024	10 to 50 TWh	24 gCO2/kWh	2 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.00 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇧🇷 Brazil	2025	200 TWh and over	109 gCO2/kWh	2 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	52 MtCO2	France
🇧🇬 Bulgaria	2025	10 to 50 TWh	275 gCO2/kWh	27 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	5.93 MtCO2	9.59 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇨🇲 Cameroon	2024	1 to 10 TWh	226 gCO2/kWh	10 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	1.46 MtCO2	Albania
🇨🇦 Canada	2025	200 TWh and over	192 gCO2/kWh	4 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	99 MtCO2	France
🇨🇱 Chile	2025	50 to 200 TWh	291 gCO2/kWh	13 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	23 MtCO2	Norway
🇨🇴 Colombia	2025	50 to 200 TWh	186 gCO2/kWh	9 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	2.36 MtCO2	14 MtCO2	Norway
🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2025	10 to 50 TWh	25 gCO2/kWh	4 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.02 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇭🇷 Croatia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	159 gCO2/kWh	20 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.57 MtCO2	1.99 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇨🇾 Cyprus	2025	1 to 10 TWh	505 gCO2/kWh	23 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	1.33 MtCO2	2.77 MtCO2	Albania
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	2024	10 to 50 TWh	28 gCO2/kWh	6 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.07 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇩🇰 Denmark	2025	10 to 50 TWh	120 gCO2/kWh	14 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	3.43 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇪🇨 Ecuador	2025	10 to 50 TWh	158 gCO2/kWh	19 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	1.42 MtCO2	4.94 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇸🇻 El Salvador	2025	1 to 10 TWh	98 gCO2/kWh	5 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.48 MtCO2	Albania
🇪🇪 Estonia	2025	1 to 10 TWh	319 gCO2/kWh	15 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.27 MtCO2	1.80 MtCO2	Albania
🇪🇹 Ethiopia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	23 gCO2/kWh	1 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	itself
🇫🇯 Fiji	2024	1 to 10 TWh	276 gCO2/kWh	13 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.00 MtCO2	0.29 MtCO2	Albania
🇫🇮 Finland	2025	50 to 200 TWh	59 gCO2/kWh	4 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	2.53 MtCO2	Norway
🇫🇷 France	2025	200 TWh and over	41 gCO2/kWh	1 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	itself
🇬🇪 Georgia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	147 gCO2/kWh	17 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.37 MtCO2	1.67 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇩🇪 Germany	2025	200 TWh and over	334 gCO2/kWh	7 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	146 MtCO2	France
🇬🇷 Greece	2025	50 to 200 TWh	325 gCO2/kWh	15 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	9.54 MtCO2	17 MtCO2	Norway
🇬🇳 Guinea	2024	1 to 10 TWh	181 gCO2/kWh	9 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.63 MtCO2	Albania
🇭🇺 Hungary	2025	10 to 50 TWh	162 gCO2/kWh	21 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	1.70 MtCO2	5.56 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇮🇸 Iceland	2025	10 to 50 TWh	28 gCO2/kWh	7 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.08 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇮🇪 Ireland	2025	10 to 50 TWh	271 gCO2/kWh	26 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	4.77 MtCO2	7.82 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇮🇹 Italy	2025	200 TWh and over	285 gCO2/kWh	6 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	65 MtCO2	France
🇯🇵 Japan	2025	200 TWh and over	474 gCO2/kWh	12 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	143 MtCO2	444 MtCO2	France
🇰🇪 Kenya	2025	10 to 50 TWh	96 gCO2/kWh	12 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	1.02 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan	2025	10 to 50 TWh	80 gCO2/kWh	9 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.73 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇱🇦 Laos	2024	50 to 200 TWh	232 gCO2/kWh	10 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	3.77 MtCO2	11 MtCO2	Norway
🇱🇻 Latvia	2025	1 to 10 TWh	135 gCO2/kWh	7 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.68 MtCO2	Albania
🇱🇧 Lebanon	2024	1 to 10 TWh	388 gCO2/kWh	19 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.60 MtCO2	1.94 MtCO2	Albania
🇱🇹 Lithuania	2025	1 to 10 TWh	138 gCO2/kWh	8 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	1.00 MtCO2	Albania
🇱🇺 Luxembourg	2025	1 to 10 TWh	118 gCO2/kWh	6 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.15 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇬 Madagascar	2024	1 to 10 TWh	434 gCO2/kWh	21 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.39 MtCO2	0.99 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇼 Malawi	2024	1 to 10 TWh	57 gCO2/kWh	3 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.06 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇹 Malta	2025	1 to 10 TWh	483 gCO2/kWh	22 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.46 MtCO2	1.02 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇩 Moldova	2025	1 to 10 TWh	514 gCO2/kWh	24 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.70 MtCO2	1.43 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇪 Montenegro	2025	1 to 10 TWh	275 gCO2/kWh	12 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.61 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇿 Mozambique	2024	10 to 50 TWh	129 gCO2/kWh	16 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.19 MtCO2	2.10 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇳🇦 Namibia	2024	1 to 10 TWh	52 gCO2/kWh	2 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.04 MtCO2	Albania
🇳🇵 Nepal	2024	10 to 50 TWh	24 gCO2/kWh	3 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.01 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇳🇱 Netherlands	2025	50 to 200 TWh	254 gCO2/kWh	12 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	13 MtCO2	30 MtCO2	Norway
🇳🇿 New Zealand	2025	10 to 50 TWh	97 gCO2/kWh	13 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	3.22 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇳🇮 Nicaragua	2024	1 to 10 TWh	300 gCO2/kWh	14 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.11 MtCO2	1.24 MtCO2	Albania
🇲🇰 North Macedonia	2025	1 to 10 TWh	426 gCO2/kWh	20 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	1.07 MtCO2	2.85 MtCO2	Albania
🇳🇴 Norway	2025	50 to 200 TWh	28 gCO2/kWh	1 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	itself
🇵🇰 Pakistan	2025	50 to 200 TWh	308 gCO2/kWh	14 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	25 MtCO2	48 MtCO2	Norway
🇵🇦 Panama	2024	10 to 50 TWh	220 gCO2/kWh	24 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	1.35 MtCO2	2.64 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇵🇾 Paraguay	2025	10 to 50 TWh	25 gCO2/kWh	5 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.06 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇵🇪 Peru	2025	50 to 200 TWh	238 gCO2/kWh	11 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	4.72 MtCO2	13 MtCO2	Norway
🇵🇹 Portugal	2025	50 to 200 TWh	128 gCO2/kWh	7 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	5.10 MtCO2	Norway
🇷🇴 Romania	2025	10 to 50 TWh	258 gCO2/kWh	25 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	6.91 MtCO2	12 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇷🇺 Russia	2025	200 TWh and over	447 gCO2/kWh	10 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	135 MtCO2	485 MtCO2	France
🇷🇼 Rwanda	2024	1 to 10 TWh	362 gCO2/kWh	18 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.10 MtCO2	0.38 MtCO2	Albania
🇸🇰 Slovakia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	95 gCO2/kWh	11 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	2.09 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇸🇮 Slovenia	2025	10 to 50 TWh	183 gCO2/kWh	22 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.94 MtCO2	2.37 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇰🇷 South Korea	2025	200 TWh and over	418 gCO2/kWh	9 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	52 MtCO2	236 MtCO2	France
🇪🇸 Spain	2025	200 TWh and over	154 gCO2/kWh	3 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	33 MtCO2	France
🇸🇩 Sudan	2024	10 to 50 TWh	154 gCO2/kWh	18 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.51 MtCO2	1.93 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇸🇷 Suriname	2024	1 to 10 TWh	323 gCO2/kWh	16 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.08 MtCO2	0.52 MtCO2	Albania
🇸🇪 Sweden	2025	50 to 200 TWh	35 gCO2/kWh	2 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	1.25 MtCO2	Norway
🇨🇭 Switzerland	2025	50 to 200 TWh	39 gCO2/kWh	3 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.73 MtCO2	Norway
🇹🇯 Tajikistan	2025	10 to 50 TWh	73 gCO2/kWh	8 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	1.18 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇹🇿 Tanzania	2024	1 to 10 TWh	344 gCO2/kWh	17 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.61 MtCO2	2.82 MtCO2	Albania
🇹🇷 Turkey	2025	200 TWh and over	476 gCO2/kWh	13 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	50 MtCO2	154 MtCO2	France
🇺🇬 Uganda	2024	1 to 10 TWh	59 gCO2/kWh	4 of 47	514 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.19 MtCO2	Albania
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	2025	200 TWh and over	218 gCO2/kWh	5 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	52 MtCO2	France
🇺🇸 United States	2025	200 TWh and over	384 gCO2/kWh	8 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	227 MtCO2	1,551 MtCO2	France
🇺🇾 Uruguay	2025	10 to 50 TWh	81 gCO2/kWh	10 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	0.69 MtCO2	Ethiopia
🇻🇪 Venezuela	2024	50 to 200 TWh	86 gCO2/kWh	5 of 30	335 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0 MtCO2	4.64 MtCO2	Norway
🇻🇳 Vietnam	2025	200 TWh and over	459 gCO2/kWh	11 of 25	476 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	41 MtCO2	137 MtCO2	France
🇿🇲 Zambia	2024	10 to 50 TWh	126 gCO2/kWh	15 of 53	275 gCO2/kWh	0 MtCO2	0.12 MtCO2	2.02 MtCO2	Ethiopia

Size bands use generation in each country's latest year. Intensity is Ember's published gCO2/kWh. Rank in band is 1 for the cleanest grid.

How This Is Measured

Ember annual statistics to 2025

Intensity is Ember's published carbon intensity of power sector generation in gCO2/kWh, for each country's own latest year (2024 or 2025). Emissions are Ember's modelled power sector CO2.
Peer group: countries of a similar size, by generation in the latest year: 1 to 10 TWh, 10 to 50 TWh, 50 to 200 TWh, 200 TWh and over. Size is used because small island grids, mid sized national grids and the very large grids face different problems, and a country is never compared with one ten times its size or a tenth of it. Region was not used as a second cut: with four size bands and five or six regions each group would hold a handful of countries and its "best" would be a single grid.
Benchmarks per band: the median (half the band is cleaner), the top quartile (the 25th percentile of intensities, by linear interpolation, so a quarter of the band is cleaner) and the cleanest single grid. The median is the least demanding and the most defensible; the cleanest grid is often a country with large hydro or nuclear resources, so matching it is an upper bound, not a plan.
Avoidable CO2 for a country above a benchmark = (its intensity minus the benchmark) x its generation. Countries at or below the benchmark avoid nothing and are not netted off: the world total is a gross sum over countries above their benchmark. 1 gCO2/kWh over 1 TWh is 1,000 tCO2.
Grids under 1 TWh, countries whose latest year is before 2024, countries with a zero or negative intensity (provisional values in Ember's data) and size bands with fewer than 5 countries are left out.
This is an illustration of scale, not a forecast and not a target. It asks what emissions would have been in the latest year if every grid above a benchmark had matched it with the same generation. It ignores geography, hydro and geothermal resources, cost and the years a change would take, and the cleanest grid in a band often owes its position to unusual hydro or nuclear resources.

A band needs at least 5 countries to be used. More on sources and licences: methodology.

Questions About the Gap to the Best Grid

How much CO2 would be avoided if countries matched the median grid of their size?

About 2,061 MtCO2 of power sector CO2 a year (14% of the 14,630 MtCO2 these 155 countries emitted in 2024 or 2025). This is an illustration of scale, not a forecast and not a target. It asks what emissions would have been in the latest year if every grid above a benchmark had matched it with the same generation. It ignores geography, hydro and geothermal resources, cost and the years a change would take, and the cleanest grid in a band often owes its position to unusual hydro or nuclear resources.

What is a peer group on this page?

Countries of similar size, by generation in the latest year: 1 to 10 TWh, 10 to 50 TWh, 50 to 200 TWh, 200 TWh and over. Each country is compared with the median, the top quartile and the cleanest grid of its own band.

Is this a forecast?

No. This is an illustration of scale, not a forecast and not a target. It asks what emissions would have been in the latest year if every grid above a benchmark had matched it with the same generation. It ignores geography, hydro and geothermal resources, cost and the years a change would take, and the cleanest grid in a band often owes its position to unusual hydro or nuclear resources.

Which countries are left out?

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. Annual statistics from Ember. Each country is measured in its own latest year (2024 or 2025). Power sector CO2 is Ember's modelled estimate.

Cite this page

APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). Gap to the Best Grid: CO2 Avoidable if Countries Matched Their Peers. https://worldpowermonitor.com/emissions-gap/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Gap to the Best Grid: CO2 Avoidable if Countries Matched Their Peers. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/emissions-gap/

BibTeX

@misc{wpm_emissions_gap_2025,
  title = {{Gap to the Best Grid: CO2 Avoidable if Countries Matched Their Peers}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/emissions-gap/}
}

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