Global greenhouse-gas emissions totaled an estimated 5.0 billion tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent in May 2026, a 0.1% decline from May 2025, Climate TRACE reported on July 30. The coalition's preliminary data also showed emissions of 25.3 billion tonnes for the first five months of the year, unchanged from the same period in 2025, indicating a plateau rather than the sustained global reduction needed to slow warming.
The monthly inventory, version 5.9.0, combines satellite observations, remote sensing, public datasets and emissions models to estimate pollution across countries and economic sectors. Climate TRACE said revisions are common as new information and methods become available. Its database tracks millions of emitting sources, offering a timelier view than national inventories that often arrive after substantial delays.
China, the largest national emitter, produced an estimated 1.4 billion tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent in May, 8.5 million tonnes or 0.6% less than a year earlier. Russia and Indonesia also recorded declines of 1.5 million and 0.8 million tonnes. In contrast, emissions rose by 2.8 million tonnes in the United States and 3.0 million tonnes in India, while the European Union increased by 4.4 million tonnes, or 1.5%.
Sector results were similarly mixed. Power emissions rose 0.9% to 1.32 billion tonnes, and buildings posted the largest percentage increase, rising 1.6% to 280.9 million tonnes. Manufacturing fell 1.5% to 916.0 million tonnes, transportation declined 0.9% to 777.7 million tonnes, and fossil-fuel operations slipped 0.1% to 779.2 million tonnes. Agriculture was unchanged at 622.3 million tonnes.
Methane emissions reached 34.2 million tonnes in May, 0.1% above the previous year, underscoring that the headline decline was narrow and uneven. NOAA and Climate Central have separately reported that atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to accumulate because humanity still emits more than oceans and land ecosystems absorb. Climate Central said the May average at Mauna Loa reached a record 432.3 parts per million, about 1.8 parts per million above a year earlier.
Climate TRACE added new coal-mining and aviation sources and updated agriculture and steel models in this release, changes that can also affect comparisons. The coalition plans to publish June estimates on August 27. The next update will show whether the recent global plateau is continuing, but the May figures alone do not establish a lasting peak because preliminary estimates may be revised and one month cannot define a long-term trend.
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