Today 174 nations, plus the European Union, signed the historic Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement has three main goals:

1) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change 2) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production 3) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

If successful, this may be known as the moment that the countries of the world came together to save the planet for future generations. Here is the Paris Agreement country list, ordered by volume of carbon emissions. Unless otherwise noted, data on carbon emissions are taken from the year 2014 from the European Comission's Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR).

1) China

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

10,540,749.59

China upholds the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, and takes an active part in international cooperation on climate change.

President Xi Jinping

2) United States Of America

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

5,334,529.74

Full implementation of this agreement will help delay or avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change, and will pave the way for even more progress, in successive stages, over the coming years.

President Barack Obama

3) India

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,341,896.76

The human race as a collective body needs to respond to these challenges or their very existence might be in danger.

President Pranab Mukherjee

4) Japan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,278,921.81

The Earth is the sole homeland to our humankind. We must hand it down safely to the generations of our children and grandchildren.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

5) Germany

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

767,145.57

Germany has set itself clear targets. We are going to reduce our CO2 emissions by 40% by the year 2020. And by the year 2050, we want to have reduced emissions by 80 to 95% from a 1990 baseline..

Chancellor Angela Merkel

6) Iran

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

618,197.21

Global warming will have a very dangerous process and will be followed by devastating impacts and consequences.

Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar

7) Republic of Korea

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

610,065.60

We must marshal the collective will and capacities of the entire world and make absolutely sure that this Climate Change Conference gives birth to a new climate regime.

President Park Geun-hye

8) Canada

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

565,991.53

We'll demonstrate that we are serious about climate change … This means making decisions based on science, it means reducing carbon emissions, including through carbon pricing towards a climate resilient economy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

9) Brazil

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

501,102.84

The global climate agreement we seek is one that promotes sustainable development. The growth of our economies is compatible with reductions in emissions.

President Dilma Rousseff

10) Mexico

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

456,269.59

We are convinced that it is possible to secure a new climate regime without disrupting economic and social development..

President Enrique Pena Nieto

11) Indonesia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

452,976.61

Due to our convenient position with [more than] 17,000 islands, we have to ensure [that the effects of climate change] can be minimized [as they can] increase sea levels.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo

12) United Kingdom

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

415,420.92

Let’s just imagine for a moment what we would have to say to our grandchildren if we failed.

Prime Minister David Cameron

13) Australia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

409,398.52

Climate change is a global problem. The planet is warming because of the growing level of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.

Prime Minister Malcom Turnbell

14) South Africa

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

392,718.90

For countries such as South Africa, weather patterns in coastal provinces are already wreaking havoc on the lives of our people, which makes this challenge a reality that we are already confronting.

President Jacob Zuma

15) Turkey

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

337,648.00

Global warming, climate change, desertification and drought are the most challenging issues of today’s world.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

16) Italy

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

337,648

Agriculture plays a fundamental role [in reducing emigration and conflict]. You achieve the means to feed families, support forms of social organization, preserve land and biodiversity, fight against climate change, create jobs and prosperity, contribute to stable and just societies and, most importantly, eradicate the root causes that push more people to emigrate.

President Sergio Mattarella

17) France

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

323,744.03

To resolve the climate crisis, good will, statements of intent are not enough. We are at breaking point.

President Park Geun-hye

18) Poland

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

298130.93

In Poland we see the need to protect the climate, but we’re also very loudly talking about the fact that our economy today needs different solutions than those which are being proposed

Prime Minister Beata Szydło

19) Thailand

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

271,978.30

Sustainability requires that humankind must learn to live in harmony with nature and lead a balanced life in a green society. Today, the adverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters can reverse decades of sustainable development gains.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

20) Ukraine

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

249,065.26

21) Spain

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

241,636.89

Climate change is the biggest environmental trial we are facing. It presents huge social and economic challenges.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

22) Malaysia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

227,481.82

Climate change and global warming can no longer be viewed lightly. Its effects are real and Malaysians are not spared from feeling the effects of it.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

23) Egypt

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

225,111.50

24) United Arab Emirates

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

201,052.18

Celebrating the last barrel of oil, as my brother Mohammed bin Zayed has said, we will build a sustainable economy for future generations.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

25) Argentina

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

199,042.92

26) Venezuela

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

195,212.97

We will be able to start to saving the planet by changing the system, not the climate.

President Nicolas Maduro

27) Viet Nam

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

190,221.79

Climate change is a hot issue, not only receiving a lot of attention from the international community, but also from the Government of Việt Nam because the country was one of five that will suffer most from climate change.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc

28) Pakistan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

158,111.78

We are adopting environment-friendly policies to overcome climate degradation.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

29) Netherlands

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

158,106.08

The Kingdom of the Netherlands, both in Europe and the Caribbean, is fully committed to the goal of keeping global warming below two degrees Celsius.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte

30) Algeria

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

141,473.22

Algeria ratified all agreements relating to environment and remains committed to addressing the climate change issue in its national environment strategy and its action plan for environment and sustainable development.

Mohamed-Larbi Ould Khelifa

31) Czech Republic

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

111,654.71

For the Czech Republic it is most important to achieve an agreement in Paris, a long-term global agreement which would be fair and stable and which would include all parties with the aim of reaching the below 2 degrees Celsius target.

Pavel Zámyslický

32) Kuwait

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

98,558.59

[Kuwait is willing to] extend bridges of cooperation with the international community to combat climate change.

Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah

33) Belgium

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

97,211.95

The fight against climate change is essential for our joint future, for peace, for security and for development.

Prime Minister Charles Michel

34) Philippines

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

96,940.31

It is imperative that all countries do everything, and maximize what can be done to address climate change now. Either we all strive and sacrifice, or we only vary in how much we lose.

President Benigno S. Aquino III

35) Qatar

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

88,750.72

36) Chile

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

78,626.29

There are many things that worry me about climate change, ranging from severe drought and flooding to islands that could disappear under water – in other words, how natural events linked to climate change affect the lives of people.

President Michelle Bachelet

37) Romania

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

78,288.59

Policy needs to be well equipped to address the challenges of food security and climate change, to preserve natural resources and to maintain territorial balance across Europe.

Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș

38) Oman

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

74,288.47

39) Colombia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

74,053.56

40) Greece

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

71,061.60

41) Austria

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

69,807.72

42) Belarus

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

67,736.58

43) Bangladesh

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

66,471.01

44) Israel

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

64,795.12

45) Morocco

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

60,653.10

46) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

59,858.59

47) Serbia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

59,250.13

48) Finland

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

54,792.99

49) Peru

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

51,959.41

50) Bulgaria

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

51,196.08

51) Libya

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

50,604.01

52) Portugal

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

48,255.49

53) Singapore

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

47,786.29

54) Norway

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

47,786.30

55) Sweden

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

44,313.73

56) Hungary

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

43,734.77

57) Switzerland

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

40,229.17

58) Denmark

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

40,030.30

59) Slovakia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

34,684.55

60) Ireland

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

34,638.78

61) New Zealand

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

34,106.27

62) Azerbaijan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

31,727.85

63) Cuba

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

30,242.30

64) Angola

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

25,013.15

65) Tunisia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

24,277.72

66) Bosnia and Herzegovina

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

23,640.76

67) Dominican Republic

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

23,442.44

68) Jordan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

22,295.90

69) Lebanon

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

21,107.98

70) Croatia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

20,677.46

71) Bahrain

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

20,522.22

72) Estonia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

19,439.93

73) Bolivia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

17,793.03

74) Sudan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

17,266.73

75) Slovenia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

16,672.89

76) Sri Lanka

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

16,647.74

77) Malawi

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

16,590.00

78) Mongolia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

14,695.74

79) Kenya

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

14,083.86

80) Ghana

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

14,070.11

81) Zimbabwe

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

13,135.40

82) Lithuannia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

12,349.22

83) Guatemala

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

11,953.33

84) Luxembourg

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

10,378.16

85) Panama

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

10,230.40

86) The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

9,491.22

87) Cameroon

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

9,178.75

88) Myanmar

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

9,128.60

89) United Republic of Tanzania

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

9,128.60

90) Ethiopia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

9,083.72

91) Honduras

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

8,447.14

92) Jamaica

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

8,297.83

93) Senegal

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

8,189.47

94) Uruguay

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

8,113.99

95) Afghanistan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,873.21

96) Costa Rica

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

14,695.74

97) Latvia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,641.48

98) Brunei Darussalam

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,412.12

99) Cote d’Ivoire

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,325.78

100) Cyprus

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,237.08

101) El Salvador

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,161.47

102) Papua New Guinea

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

7,118.39

103) Georgia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

6,537.25

104) Nepal

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

6,502.60

105) Botswana

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

5,694.57

106) Paraguay

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

5,526.06

107) Congo

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

5,067.71

108) Gabon

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

5,026.87

109) Uganda

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

4,891.81

110) Cambodia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

4,760.29

111) Mozambique

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

4,382.33

112) Bahamas

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

4,232.01

113) Albania

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

4,031.77

114) Democratic Republic of Congo

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,984.36

115) Iceland

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,848.86

116) Tajikistan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,647.21

117) Namibia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,559.71

118) Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,373.73

119) Mauritius

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,270.42

120) Madagascar

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

3,015.26

121) Montenegro

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,817.80

122) Guyana

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,757.98

123) Mauritania

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,467.52

124) Burkina Faso

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,444.44

125) Malta

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,413.03

126) Haiti

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,287.76

127) State Of Palestine

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,248.00

128) Suriname

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,161.52

129) Togo

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,133.71

130) Equatorial Guinea

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,096.09

131) Niger

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,053.16

132) Guinea

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,038.80

133) South Sudan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

2,016.00

134) Mali

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,638.58

135) Djibouti

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,442.25

136) Bhutan

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,441.72

137) Barbados

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,359.50

138) Fiji

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,344.94

139) Rwanda

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,341.83

140) Somalia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,277.88

141) Chad

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,273.58

142) Sierra Leone

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,268.12

143) Burundi

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1,227.35

144) Maldives

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

972.48

145) Belize

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

958.69

146) Liberia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

807.67

147) Central African Republic

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

736.66

148) Eritrea

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

671.94

149) Swaziland

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

658.50

150) Saint Lucia

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

551.14

151) Andorra

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

491.38

152) Grenada

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

477.26

153) Antigua and Barbuda

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

442.98

154) Timor-Leste

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

658.50

155) Lesotho

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

322.88

156) Guinea Bissau

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

322.35

157) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

311.14

158) Solomon Islands

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

276.17

159) Saint Kitts and Nevis

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

267.70

160) San Marino

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

213.00

161) Tonga

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

204.14

162) Liechtenstein

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

188.60

163) Dominica

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

166.49

164) Samoa

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

134.56

165) Vanuatu

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

213.00

166) Marshall Islands

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

110.52

167) Cabo Verde

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

105.00

168) Monaco

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

90.00

169) Sao Tome and Principe

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

60.02

170) Kiribati

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

41.98

171) Palau

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

32.88

172) Micronesia (Federated States of)

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

17.00

173) Nauru

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

1.11

174) Tuvalu

Annual CO2 Emissions In Kilotons

0.56