The majority of sulfur dioxide originates from:

The majority of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions can be attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal and oil in power plants. When coal and oil are combusted, they release various pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, which is a result of the sulfur content found in these fuels. This makes coal and oil burning power plants the leading sources of sulfur dioxide emissions in many regions, especially in urban areas and regions reliant on coal for electricity generation.

While automobile exhaust, industrial smelters, and volcanic eruptions are also contributors to sulfur dioxide emissions, they are not the primary sources. Vehicles generally produce lower amounts of sulfur dioxide relative to the large emissions from power plants. Similarly, while industrial processes can release sulfur dioxide, the scale and volume of emissions from coal and oil combustion far exceed those from smelting activities. Volcanic eruptions can emit significant amounts of sulfur dioxide in short bursts, but they are not a constant source of the gas compared to ongoing emissions from energy production.