2018 Global Carbon Emissions Reach Record High This week is the 24th annual br U.N. climate conference in Poland. Global emissions are projected to rise br 2.7 in 2018, Fossil fuel and industrial emissions will reach a record high of 37.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. The increase is being driven by almost 5 emissions growth in China and more than 6 in India. Emissions by the United States increased by 2.5. António Guterres, U.N. Secretary General, br via 'Washington Post' Rob Jackson, researcher.