Whether globalization is good or bad for the environment has been studied intensively in recent years. However, few studies have explicitly provided a general picture of globalization around the world or considered the rich dimensions of globalization outside of economic globalization. By applying the new KOF globalization index in a panel data sample of 166 countries over the 1990–2009 period, our results suggest that, on average, overall carbon emissions rise with higher levels of economic, social and political globalization, although the effect varies by OECD and non‐OECD country group. After decomposing the main contributors of carbon emissions, our further data from the manufacturing and construction sector yield evidence consistent with a pollution haven effect in terms of climate change.