Meghan Hodges
America's contribution to global pollution is a pressing issue. The country is among the top 10 deadliest nations for pollution-related fatalities, with toxic air, water, land, and workplaces killing at least 197,000 Americans in 2017. The US military has been identified as the largest single institutional emitter of greenhouse gases worldwide, and air pollution disproportionately affects communities of color and low-income populations. While the US has historically led initiatives to combat climate change, it now faces criticism for insufficient action, with the Trump administration's policies expected to worsen pollution-related health issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global GHG emissions in 2019 | 76% |
| Global emission growth from 2013 to 2019 | 0.8% per year |
| Global emission growth since 1990 | 1.7% per year |
| Global emissions decrease in 2020 | 4.9% |
| Global emissions increase in 2021 | 0.1% |
| US commitment to reduce emissions by 2025 | 26% to 28% |
| US ranking in carbon-dioxide pollution | 2nd |
| US ranking in per-person carbon emissions | 1st |
| US population exposed to unhealthy air in 2025 | 46% |
| US population exposed to unhealthy air in absolute numbers | 156.1 million |
| US population exposed to unhealthy air compared to 2024 | 25 million more |
| US air pollution in 2023 | 66 million tons |
| US airborne lead concentration decrease between 1980 and 2005 | 98% |
| US emissions of air toxics decrease from 1990 to 2017 | 74% |
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What You'll Learn
The US is the second-largest carbon dioxide polluter in the world
The United States is the second-largest carbon dioxide polluter in the world, with China taking the lead. According to NASA's Climate Science division, the Earth's atmosphere has seen a 50% increase in carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution, warming the planet and causing climate change. While China's carbon dioxide emissions are 15% higher than those of all other developed economies combined, the US is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere.
The US has a long history of burning fossil fuels, with coal supplying just under half of America's electricity, more than any other source. America's fleet of coal-fired power plants emitted more than 80% of CO2 pollution from US power plants in 2007 and 36% of the country's total CO2 pollution. The typical American burns roughly twice as much carbon as the average person in Europe or Japan and ten times as much as the average person in India.
The US has also been slow to adopt clean energy technologies, with the vast majority of its electricity still generated by burning fossil fuels. However, the US Department of Energy projects that electricity demand will remain relatively flat over the next two decades, which could create a much smaller market for renewables. In contrast, China plans to reduce its dependence on coal and invest in nuclear, renewable energy sources, and natural gas to decrease overall pollution in its cities.
Despite being the second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, the US has been reluctant to address its contribution to climate change. The Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Climate Deal, arguing that meeting its terms would harm the American economy and result in job losses. This move was criticized as immoral and a failure of leadership in addressing climate change.
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The US has the highest per-person carbon emissions
The United States is the second-largest carbon dioxide polluter in the world, after China. However, the US has the highest per-person carbon emissions. The US has also historically emitted more carbon dioxide than any other country, with emissions rising since the Industrial Revolution.
While China has overtaken the US as the largest annual carbon emitter, the US still has a greater share of responsibility for global warming on both a national and per-person level. In 2021, the average North American emitted 11 times more energy-related carbon dioxide than the average African. The richest 10% of North Americans emit over 55 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita each year. In comparison, the global average carbon footprint is around 4.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person.
The US has committed to reducing its emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025 compared to 2005 levels. However, the country has already "overspent" its carbon budget, according to a Scientific American analysis. This analysis found that the US has overspent its carbon budget by roughly 346 billion metric tons.
Transportation is the largest contributing sector to US carbon emissions, accounting for 28.4% of 2022 emissions. Electric power (power plants) is the second-largest contributor, accounting for approximately 25% of emissions. While US carbon emissions have decreased since 2010, largely due to the growing use of natural gas and renewables, the country still has a long way to go in reducing its per-person carbon footprint.
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The US committed to reducing emissions by 26-28% by 2025
The United States is the second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, responsible for 13% of global emissions. In 2015, under the Obama administration, the US committed to reducing its emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. This target was part of the Paris Agreement, also known as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and was a milestone toward the country's long-term goal of reducing emissions by 80% below 2005 levels by 2050.
The US has made some progress toward meeting this target. Preliminary estimates show that economy-wide emissions fell by 10.3% between 2019 and 2020, and by 21% between 2005 and 2020. However, this decline was largely due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and economic recession, and without further action, emissions are likely to rise again as the economy recovers.
To ensure emissions do not revert to pre-pandemic levels, the US must invest in clean energy and deploy a whole-of-society approach to tackle the climate crisis. This includes increasing the use of wind and solar energy, which have been shown to provide twice as many jobs as fossil fuel production. Additionally, the State Department is working to reduce emissions of industrial greenhouse gases, and the private sector has committed to cutting global emissions.
Despite these efforts, the US is still falling short of its domestic climate targets. The Biden administration has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, but the current policies are insufficient to meet this goal. To achieve its targets, the US must address the rising demand for electricity across sectors and reverse the trend of increasing fossil fuel extraction. Strong commitments and actions from the US are critical to demonstrate leadership and encourage other major emitters, such as China, Japan, and India, to step up their emissions reduction targets.
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The US EPA is facing threats of funding and staffing cuts
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an agency dedicated to the mission of protecting human health and the environment. However, during the second Trump administration, the EPA is facing significant threats of funding and staffing cuts.
In May 2025, the EPA announced plans to reduce its budget by $300 million for the 2026 fiscal year, decrease staff numbers to levels not seen since the 1980s, and dissolve its research and development office. This comes as a result of the Trump administration's goal to cut regulatory red tape and promote energy development, as outlined in President Donald Trump's executive orders. These changes are expected to have a substantial impact on environmental regulations and the agency's ability to conduct independent research.
The proposed budget cuts and staffing reductions have sparked concerns among critics and researchers. They argue that these changes will undermine the scientific independence of the EPA and turn it into a purely political agency. The Union of Concerned Scientists warned that dismantling the scientific arm of the EPA and reclassifying scientists as political appointees will make the agency a political tool of the president. Furthermore, the layoffs and funding cuts are likely to disrupt ongoing research, delay experiments, and lead to a loss of expertise in critical areas.
The EPA workforce has already faced challenges during the first Trump administration, where the agency's focus shifted away from its mission of protecting human health and the environment. The current proposed cuts of 65% to the workforce and activities are expected to have even more significant consequences. The career staff at the EPA has expressed their dedication to the agency's mission, but they are now facing threats, intimidation, and devaluation.
The funding and staffing cuts to the EPA have broader implications for federal funding in communities and the progress of scientific research. The uncertainty caused by political shifts and delays in funding decisions can deter researchers and disrupt long-term collaborations. As a result, early-career scientists may leave academia, and mid-career researchers may struggle to secure stable funding, hindering the advancement of critical areas of research.
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Climate change is making it harder to maintain air quality improvements
Climate change is worsening air quality and making it harder to maintain air quality improvements. Air pollution is the fourth-largest risk factor for early death, with 4.5 million deaths linked to outdoor air pollution in 2019, and 2.2 million caused by indoor air pollution. China and India have the highest mortality burdens.
Air pollution is causing the climate to change, and climate change is causing air quality to deteriorate. This is due to the increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere, which trap heat from the Sun in the Earth's atmosphere. The increase in greenhouse gases is caused by vehicle exhaust, pollutants from factories and power plants, emissions from agriculture, and other sources.
Climate change is causing more extreme weather, such as heat waves and droughts, which negatively impact air quality. Warmer temperatures increase ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant, and cause more frequent wildfires, which produce smoke and soot that further worsen air quality. According to a report by First Street, by 2054, air quality could revert to 2004 levels, "wiping away 20 years of air quality improvements." The report predicts that an additional 1.7 million properties will experience 10 or more poor air quality days annually due to soot and smog, a 15% increase from today.
To mitigate these issues, it is crucial to transition to cleaner fuels and industrial processes, such as renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, and electric vehicles. Additionally, reducing air pollution from transportation, improving air quality at ports, and addressing indoor air pollution can help improve overall air quality.
While challenges lie ahead, there is still an opportunity to change the current trajectory. Policymakers and regulators need to adapt to evolving threats and incorporate climate change considerations into their decision-making processes. By addressing short-lived climate pollutants, we can improve air quality, enhance public health, and mitigate climate change.
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Frequently asked questions
While it is difficult to make a direct comparison, America is one of the top polluting countries in the world. The Clean Air Act has helped improve air quality over the last 50 years, but air pollution still poses a serious health threat to millions of Americans.
Ozone and particle pollution are two of the most widespread and dangerous air pollutants in the US. Particles in air pollution can be smaller than 1/30th the diameter of a human hair, which means they can get past the body's natural defenses and cause serious health issues.
Bakersfield, California, has the worst short-term and year-round particle pollution in the US. Los Angeles has the worst ozone pollution in the nation. Nearly half of the US population lives with unhealthy levels of air pollution, with over 156 million people residing in counties that received an F for ozone or particle pollution in the "State of the Air" report in 2025.
The US is one of the top polluting countries in the world, but other countries like China, India, and Japan are also major contributors to global pollution. China has experienced constant red alerts for environmental pollution in recent years, and India's burning of fossil fuels has led to it ranking third in the world for pollution.
