Global CO2 emissions have grown by 68% since 1990.

Omissions

• Only one independent secondary source (Statista, based on Global Carbon Project data) provides a directly comparable percentage for global CO2; no primary statistical source (IEA, Global Carbon Project, UNEP) explicitly stating the 68% figure was located.
• The metric should be specified: the claim refers to global CO2 emissions, but global greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e, all gases) show a different growth rate, so mixing the two would misstate the figure.
• The contrast drawn between the EU's 36% reduction and a global 68% increase omits context: the EU accounts for only about 6–7% of global emissions, and most of the global growth originates outside the EU, which frames the comparison to imply EU action is futile.

Sources

• PrimaryIEA — Global Energy Review 2026: CO2 emissionsGlobal growth in energy-related CO2 emissions slowed in 2025, rising by around 0.4%, the slowest rate since 2021. Despite this slowdown, total energy-related CO2 emissions increased by around 145 million tonnes (Mt) in 2025, reaching a new high of nearly 38.4 billion tonnes (Gt), and 5% above 2019 levels.
• SecondaryStatista — Global CO2 emissions by year 1940-2025Annual global carbon dioxide emissions have increased by more than 65 percent since 1990 and are now at their highest ever levels.