Brian Barton
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most dominant greenhouse gas, produced by the burning of fossil fuels, industrial production, and land use change. The United States emitted 5,130 million metric tons of energy-related carbon dioxide in 2019, while the global emissions of energy-related carbon dioxide totaled 33,621.5 million metric tons. The US per person emissions in 2021 were nearly twice as large as China's and nearly eight times as large as India's. Atmospheric carbon dioxide has been increasing since the start of the Industrial Revolution in 1750, with emissions skyrocketing to more than 35 billion tons per year by the end of the 20th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| CO2 emitted within the US borders | 5,130 million metric tons |
| Global energy-related CO2 emissions | 33,621.5 million metric tons |
| Per capita emissions in the US | Nearly twice as large as China's and nearly 8 times as large as India's |
| Per capita emissions in the US in the 1970s | 7 times those of China and 23 times those of India |
| Atmospheric CO2 in ppm in 2024 | 422.8 |
| Atmospheric CO2 in ppm in 1958 | 315 |
| Atmospheric CO2 in ppm in the last ice age | 300 |
| Human emissions of carbon dioxide by the end of the century | 75 billion tons per year or more |
| Atmospheric carbon dioxide amounts by the end of the century | 800 ppm or higher |
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What You'll Learn
CO2 emitted by the most polluting power plants
In 2023, utility-scale electric power plants that burned coal, natural gas, or petroleum were the source of about 60% of total annual US electricity net generation. However, they accounted for a staggering 99% of the associated CO2 emissions. The remaining 1% of CO2 emissions came from other fossil fuel derivatives and some types of geothermal power plants.
CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 8% in 2022 compared to 2020, and by 1% compared to 2021. While emissions from coal consumption decreased by 6% from 2021 to 2022, emissions from natural gas consumption increased by 5% in the same period.
In 2022, the US electric power industry accounted for about 33% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions, while the electric power sector accounted for about 31%. Overall, in 2023, total annual US net electricity generation by utility-scale electric power plants was about 4.18 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) from all energy sources. This resulted in about 1.53 billion metric tons (1.69 billion short tons) of CO2 emissions, or about 0.81 pounds of CO2 emissions per kWh.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes CO2 emissions estimates related to electricity generation, both monthly and annually.
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Per capita emissions
When discussing climate change, carbon dioxide (CO2) is often the focus. It is the most dominant greenhouse gas, produced by the burning of fossil fuels, industrial production, and land use change. However, it is not the only greenhouse gas driving climate change. Other gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, and trace gases like "F-gases," have also contributed significantly to global warming.
To understand the "footprint" of an average person in a given country, per capita emissions are often considered. These figures reflect production-based emissions and do not account for traded goods. They specifically look at CO2 emissions and not total greenhouse gas emissions. Per capita energy-related CO2 emissions in the US vary significantly by state. For instance, Wyoming was the biggest per capita emitter in 2021, with 94 tCO2 per person, mainly due to its heavily polluting coal industry. In contrast, New York had the smallest carbon footprint in 2021, with less than eight tCO2 per person.
While per capita emissions provide valuable insights, they may not capture the full picture of a country's emissions. Production-based emissions only consider emissions within a country's borders and exclude those from traded goods. To address this limitation, consumption-based emissions can be estimated by correcting for trade. These emissions reflect the CO2 emitted in producing goods imported or exported by a country.
Additionally, when comparing the impact of different greenhouse gases, "carbon dioxide equivalents" are used. This metric accounts for the fact that different gases have varying warming potentials. By multiplying the emissions of each gas by its "global warming potential" value, we can understand its relative warming impact compared to CO2. This allows for a more comprehensive assessment of a country's emissions and their contribution to global warming.
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CO2 emitted by burning fossil fuels
The burning of fossil fuels is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are used to meet the world's vast energy needs. When these fuels are burned, they undergo a chemical reaction called combustion, which combines carbon in the fossil fuels with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide and water vapour.
CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which means it has the ability to trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. This is known as the greenhouse effect, a natural process that makes the Earth habitable. However, human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have significantly increased CO2 levels over the past century. The excess CO2 from burning fossil fuels intensifies the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change.
CO2 emissions from fossil fuels come from various sources, including power plants, vehicles, and residential heating. Power plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, while vehicles and residential buildings use products derived from fossil fuels, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil. According to a study, global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are projected to reach a record high of 37.4 billion tonnes in 2024, emphasizing the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy sources.
It is important to note that while this discussion focuses on CO2 emissions, other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, also contribute significantly to climate change. Additionally, emissions calculations often consider production-based or territorial emissions, which may exclude the impact of traded goods and consumption-based emissions. Nevertheless, addressing CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels is a critical aspect of mitigating climate change and its associated impacts, such as extreme weather, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels.
To conclude, the burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and driving global warming. Transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels are crucial steps towards mitigating climate change and creating a more sustainable future.
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CO2 emitted by oil and gas producers
The United States is responsible for a significant proportion of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. While annual emissions figures are often used to compare countries' contributions to climate change, these metrics can be influenced by population size. To understand the per capita emissions, it is essential to consider "production-based" emissions, which refer to emissions generated within a country's borders.
In the US, the largest contributors to CO2 emissions are oil and natural gas. In 2023, petroleum (oil) accounted for about 38% of US energy consumption but was responsible for 47% of total annual US energy-related CO2 emissions. Natural gas, on the other hand, made up about 36% of energy consumption and contributed to 37% of total annual energy-related CO2 emissions. These numbers highlight the significant impact of oil and gas consumption on the US's carbon footprint.
The production, transport, and processing of oil and gas have a notable environmental impact. In 2022, these activities resulted in 5.1 billion tonnes of CO2-eq, contributing just under 15% of total energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additionally, the use of oil and gas accounts for another 40% of emissions. To address this issue, oil and gas producers can implement cost-effective measures such as tackling methane emissions, eliminating non-essential flaring, electrifying upstream facilities with low-emissions electricity, and adopting carbon capture and storage technologies.
It is worth noting that the US's CO2 emissions landscape has evolved over time. In the 1700s, coal-fired power emerged as the primary source of energy in North America. It wasn't until the late 1800s that emissions from oil and gas production began to grow significantly. Today, solid and liquid fuels, including oil and gas, dominate the energy landscape, with coal taking a back seat.
To summarize, the US's CO2 emissions are heavily influenced by the production and consumption of oil and natural gas. The country has recognized the need to reduce emissions from these sources and is exploring various measures to achieve this goal. By addressing the emissions from oil and gas activities, the US can make significant progress towards mitigating its environmental impact and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
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CO2 emitted by cement production
Cement manufacturing is responsible for about 8% of global CO2 emissions, or around 9% of all human CO2 emissions. If the cement industry were a country, it would be the third or fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide. In 2022, global cement manufacturing produced 1.6 billion metric tons of CO2, with emissions from cement production more than doubling since the turn of the century.
Cement is a key ingredient in concrete, which is the second most widely used material after water. The annual global production of concrete is forecast to grow from 14 billion cubic meters today to 20 billion cubic meters by the middle of the century as human societies urbanize and the demand for infrastructure grows. This means that reducing the amount of carbon emitted by cement production is critical to achieving global climate targets.
There are several ways to make the cement industry more sustainable and reduce its carbon emissions. One way is to reduce the amount of concrete used in construction projects. This can be done by changing building codes to allow for new, alternative, and blended cements, and by specifying compressive strengths at two or three months instead of one month, which can lessen the amount of material needed. Another way to reduce emissions is to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and raise efficiency across production, which could reduce the carbon footprint by up to 40%. Using different raw materials for clinker, the hardening agent used in cement production, could also significantly lower carbon emissions.
Additionally, new technologies and processes can be implemented to reduce emissions. For example, equipment can be added to capture CO2, which could reduce emissions by up to 60%. This captured CO2 can then be used to make carbon-negative limestone. Another example is the use of electrochemical processes instead of heat to produce cement, which can permanently capture atmospheric carbon dioxide.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2019, the United States emitted 5,130 million metric tons of energy-related carbon dioxide.
The US's per-person CO2 emissions are nearly twice as large as China's and nearly eight times as large as India's.
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change. There are two types of carbon sequestration: geologic and biologic.
