Brian Barton
The United States is one of the world's largest polluters, second only to China. According to the latest data from the World Bank, the US is the second-largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions, and on a per-person basis, it is the biggest polluter. The US has emitted more than a quarter of all historical CO2, and despite progress in air quality improvement, about 140 million Americans lived in counties with pollution levels above the primary NAAQS in 2023. The US has made efforts to reduce emissions, such as shifting from coal to natural gas and implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but it still faces challenges in meeting its climate goals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| US contribution to global pollution | The US has contributed more than any other country to atmospheric carbon dioxide. |
| US share of global carbon budget | The US has overspent its carbon budget by about 346 billion metric tons. |
| US per capita emissions | The US has released more heat-trapping gases per capita than China or India. |
| US historical emissions | The US has produced more cumulative carbon dioxide than any other nation to date. |
| US emissions sources | Transportation is the largest contributing sector, followed by electric power. |
| US emissions trends | From 1990 to 2017, emissions of air toxics declined by 74%. |
| US emissions reduction | From 1990 to 2022, US greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 3%. |
| US power industry emissions | Emissions from the power industry have fallen by more than 35% since 2005. |
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What You'll Learn
America's contribution to global CO2 emissions
The United States has emitted around a quarter of all historical CO2 emissions, more than any other country. This is twice that of China, which is the second-largest contributor. In 2019, China was estimated to have emitted 27% of global GHG, followed by the US with 11%, then India with 6.6%. The US has a high per capita emission rate, with annual emissions exceeding 15 tons per person. The richest decile in the US emits over 55 tonnes of CO2 per capita each year.
The US has made efforts to reduce its emissions, with federal and state governments implementing regulations and technological advancements contributing to a 74% decline in air toxic emissions from 1990 to 2017. The EPA has also developed national programs aimed at significantly reducing air emissions and improving air quality. Additionally, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), founded in 2007, is a state-level emissions cap-and-trade program adopted by nine northeastern US states.
Despite these efforts, the US continues to have high emissions, with transportation being the largest contributing sector, accounting for 28.4% of 2022 emissions. Electric power (power plants) is the second-largest contributor, responsible for approximately 25% of emissions. California, a state with stricter emissions standards than the federal government, has seen a large decline in vehicle emissions from 2007 to 2013, followed by a rise attributed to population and employment growth and increases in overall state GDP.
In summary, the US has historically been a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, with its industrialization rapidly increasing its share over the past century. While there have been efforts to reduce emissions, the US still faces challenges in sectors such as transportation and electric power generation.
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The US's status as a historical leader in emissions
The US has been a historical leader in emissions, with the highest per capita emissions globally. Since 1751, the world has emitted over 1.5 trillion tonnes of CO2. The US has emitted the most to date: more than a quarter of all historical CO2, twice that of China, the second-largest contributor. The US was the largest emitter between the mid-19th century and 2005, when it was overtaken by China.
The US has made some progress in reducing emissions, with a 3% decline in 2019, the largest in the world in absolute terms. This has been attributed to coal becoming less economically viable compared to gas and renewables. However, emissions have declined more slowly during Trump's term than during Obama's presidency, and the US remains the second-biggest emitter.
Several US states are leading the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. California, for instance, has stricter emissions standards than the federal government, and its Clean Air Act preemption waiver allows it to set its own standards. California has also implemented the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations, which establish increasing emissions standards for passenger vehicles and require manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of ZEVs and plug-in hybrids annually. Hawaii became the first US state to pass legislation mandating that all its electricity come from renewable sources by the middle of the century. Vermont, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, South Dakota, and Maine are also making significant progress towards being powered by renewable energy.
The US government has also implemented initiatives to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The EPA's WasteWise program works with businesses to encourage recycling and source reduction to keep waste out of landfills. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a state-level emissions capping and trading program that includes nine northeastern states. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program provides funds to states to improve air quality and congestion through transportation projects.
Despite these efforts, the US still has a long way to go in reducing its emissions and meeting its climate targets. The economic sectors most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions in the US are electricity generation, industry, and transportation, accounting for 50%, 28%, and 14% of renewable energy use, respectively. To avoid the worst impacts of climate change, countries need to rapidly reduce emissions to net zero by 2050.
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Air pollution in the US
The United States of America (US), a country located predominantly in North America, consists of 50 states and 5 territories. In 2019, the population of the US was 328 million people. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the country has made significant progress in improving air quality. However, air pollution remains a pressing issue in the US, with approximately 140 million people residing in counties with pollution levels exceeding the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as of 2023.
The EPA estimates emissions of ambient air pollutants and their precursors, including vehicles, factories, and other sources. These estimates consider factors such as industrial activity levels, technological developments, fuel consumption, vehicle miles travelled, and other pollution-causing activities. The EPA has implemented programmes like the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, which provides funding for states to address air quality and congestion through surface transportation projects.
The US has historically been a major contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Since 1751, the world has emitted over 1.5 trillion tonnes of CO2, with the US contributing more than a quarter of this amount, twice as much as China, the second-largest contributor. However, it's important to note that the countries with the highest historical emissions may not be the biggest emitters today. For example, the UK's contribution to global emissions in 2017 was only 1%.
To address air pollution, the US has implemented regulations and initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. California, for instance, has been granted a waiver by the EPA to set stricter emissions standards for vehicles manufactured in 2009 and later. The Advanced Clean Cars programme addresses greenhouse gas emissions and criteria air pollutants through the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations. The US has also seen a decrease in CO2 emissions since 2007, with a 17% increase in 2022 compared to 1970 levels.
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US government's initiatives to reduce pollution
The United States has emitted the most CO2 to date: over a quarter of all historical CO2, which is twice that of China, the second-largest contributor. Despite this, the US government has implemented several initiatives to reduce pollution.
The Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act of 1970 was the first law to authorise the federal government and states to create regulations to limit emissions from both stationary and mobile sources of air pollution. The Act has proven that protecting public health, building the economy, and keeping the air clean and safe can go hand in hand. Four major regulatory programs for stationary sources of air pollution arose from the law: The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Clean Air Act has significantly reduced air pollution across the United States, with aggregate national emissions of six pollutants dropping by an average of 70% between 1970 and 2015, while the country's gross domestic product grew by 246%.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
The RGGI is a state-level emissions capping and trading program founded in 2007 by nine northeastern US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. States sell emission allowances through auctions and invest the proceeds in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership and Vehicle Technologies Program
This program works with the DOE's hydrogen, fuel cell, and infrastructure R&D efforts to develop improved technology for hybrid electric vehicles.
Clean Cities
Clean Cities is a network of local coalitions created by the DOE in 1993 that supports energy efficiency and clean fuel efforts in local transportation.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program
The CMAQ Program provides funds to states to improve air quality and congestion through the implementation of surface transportation projects, such as traffic flow and public transit improvements.
Advanced Clean Cars
Advanced Clean Cars addresses GHG emissions and criteria air pollutants in California through the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) regulation and the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation. The LEV regulation establishes increasing emissions standards for passenger vehicles through model year 2025, while the ZEV regulation requires vehicle manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of ZEVs and plug-in hybrids annually through 2025.
Vehicle Air Pollution (Senate Resolution 27)
This resolution implies that California does not have to adhere to cutbacks in federal emissions standards, allowing the state to set stricter emissions standards than the federal government. California has seen a large decline in vehicle emissions from 2007 to 2013 due to this resolution.
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State-level initiatives to reduce pollution
The United States has emitted the most CO2 to date: over a quarter of all historical CO2, which is twice that of China, the second-largest contributor. While industrialization in the US has rapidly increased its contribution to CO2 emissions, the country has also been taking initiatives to reduce them.
- The Clean Air Act of 1970 was the first law to authorize the federal government and states to create regulations to limit emissions from both stationary sources and mobile sources of air pollution. Four major regulatory programs for stationary sources of air pollution arose from the law: The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Clean Air Act has proven that protecting public health, building the economy, and keeping the air clean and safe can go hand in hand.
- The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), founded in 2007, is a state-level emissions capping and trading program by nine northeastern US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. It is a cap-and-trade program in which states sell almost all emission allowances through auctions and invest the proceeds in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other consumer benefit programs.
- The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership and Vehicle Technologies Program work jointly with the DOE's hydrogen, fuel cell, and infrastructure R&D efforts to develop improved technology for hybrid electric vehicles, which include components such as batteries and electric motors.
- Clean Cities is a network of local coalitions created by the DOE in 1993 that works to support energy efficiency and clean fuel efforts in local transportation contexts.
- The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program provides funds to states to improve air quality and congestion through the implementation of surface transportation projects, such as traffic flow and public transit improvements.
- The Advanced Clean Cars program addresses GHG emissions and criteria air pollutants in California through the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) regulation and the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation. The LEV regulation establishes increasing emissions standards for passenger vehicles through model year 2025. The ZEV regulation requires vehicle manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of ZEVs and plug-in hybrids annually through 2025. 15 states have adopted the regulations under this program.
- The EPA's WasteWise program works with businesses to encourage recycling and source reduction to keep waste out of landfills.
- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advises residents to plant and care for trees, as they filter pollutants and absorb carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere and helping to cool homes.
- The Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, ordered city building inspectors to inspect whether air filtration systems were being installed in homes and buildings located along freeways, where air pollution is the worst.
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Frequently asked questions
America contributes to pollution in several ways, including through the burning of fossil fuels, agricultural practices, and plastic waste. Transportation is the largest contributor to emissions, followed by electric power.
Pollution in America has several negative consequences, including harm to aquatic ecosystems, increased water treatment costs, and negative impacts on recreational activities. Additionally, air pollution can cause respiratory issues and other health problems for Americans.
Efforts to reduce pollution in America include implementing environmental regulations, improving waste management practices, and developing national programs aimed at reducing emissions. America has also committed to reducing its emissions under the Paris Agreement.
America is the second-largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions, after China. On a per-person basis, America is the biggest producer of carbon emissions, and the country has released more heat-trapping gases than China or India.
