The earth is spewing fire again, with Mount Etna in Sicily once more active – according to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), an ash cloud up to six kilometers high was observed during the latest eruption. And how much CO2 is Etna emitting? The answer says a lot about the statements made by various climate change experts.

Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, is back in the international headlines. On June 2, 2025, the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) recorded a new phase of increased activity, followed by another violent eruption today, Thursday. A cloud of ash rose up to 6.5 kilometers into the sky, accompanied by lava flows and glowing rock ejections. Aviation authorities raised the alert level for air traffic around the volcano.

But it’s not just fire and ash that are causing a stir: Mount Etna is also one of the largest natural emitters of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the world. Every day, an average of around 16,000 tons of CO₂ pours out of its crater – that’s 667 tons per hour.

CO₂ emissions in comparison: the volcano and a small Alpine country

By way of comparison, Austria, a relatively small industrialized country with 9 million inhabitants, emitted a total of 61 million tons of CO₂ in 2023, according to official data – mainly from energy production, transport, and industry.

That means

• Every day: 167,000 tons of CO₂
• Every hour: about 6,960 tons of CO₂

Etna thus emits about one-tenth (!) of Austria’s daily CO₂ emissions – continuously, without traffic or industry. Its natural emissions make it a significant player in the global carbon cycle.

Worldwide, all active volcanoes combined emit around 200 to 645 million tons of CO₂ annually. Volcanoes alone are estimated to contribute one to two percent of global CO₂ emissions.

Significance for the climate?

Volcanic CO₂ emissions are considered part of the natural CO₂ cycle. Nevertheless, during large eruptions – such as the Tambora eruption in 1815 – volcanoes can influence the global climate in the short term, albeit mostly through sulfur compounds rather than CO₂.

Etna has been active again since the beginning of June – spectacularly and with serious consequences. The fire-spitting mountain not only hurls lava into the sky, but also pumps thousands of tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere every day. Compared to an entire country like Austria, the emissions seem small at first, but they are impressive proof of how powerful nature can be when it comes to climate issues.

Credit: APA