Researchers with the multinational Global Carbon Project have released new data that shows China's CO2 output is almost twice as high as the output of the United States. It also shows that the output of China is almost three times as high as the European Union.

Of the 36 billion tons of carbon released into the atmosphere in 2013 alone, China produced almost a third, while the United States only accounts for about 15 percent. That doesn't mean the average American produces less carbon output than the average Chinese person, though, as the per capita output for the United States is 16.5 tons per year, compared to China's 7.2 per person per year. China's population has reached just under 1.4 billion, while the United States is only at around 318,000. Though China is at the top of the list for carbon output, the country has also made large strides toward investing in green technology by installing the most solar panels in 2013 and having slowed down in its use of coal for energy. Scientists claim carbon emissions need to be reduced by 80 percent before 2050 to curb the growing dangers of climate change.