The graph...expands the time period from 1850 to 2011, during which data only on CO2 emissions are continuously available. In this case, the five major emitters—the United States, European Union, China, Russian Federation, and Japan— together contributed two-thirds of the world’s historic CO2 emissions - using up around 37 percent of our global carbon budget.

The Industrial Revolution was started before there was any notable increase in Greenhouse Gases. So to account for all the liability of the damage to Earth's troposphere it was necessary to return to 1850 and determine the percentages of historic responsibility.

The Industrial Revolution (click here) spanned the 18th and early 19th Century. Over this period, global CO2 emissions were a fraction of current levels. During the 18th Century, global CO2emissions were around 3 to 7 million tonnes per year. During the early 19th Century, CO2emissions steadily rose reaching 54 million tonnes per year by 1850. Currently we are emitting over 8000 million tonnes per year....