Meghan Hodges
The United States has historically emitted more carbon dioxide than any other country, and while it is no longer the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it is still responsible for a significant proportion of global emissions. In 2020, the US emitted 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, contributing 11% of global GHG emissions, second only to China. The US also has the highest per capita emissions in the world, with the richest 10% emitting over 55 tonnes of CO2 per capita each year. This is significantly higher than the global median and even that of the European Union. While the US has taken steps to reduce its emissions, such as the development of alternative energy sources and the Cap-and-Trade Program, it remains a major contributor to global warming.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| US contribution to global carbon emissions in 2020 | 11% |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions in 2019 | 27% |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions in 2021 | 13.49% |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions in history | Highest in the world |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions per capita in 2020 | Highest in the world |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions per capita in 2021 | Over 15 tons |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions per capita among the top 1% of emitters | Over 55 tons |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions per capita among the richest 0.1% of emitters | Over 200 tons |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions from buildings in 2020 | 40% |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions from the electric power sector in 2021 | 25% |
| US contribution to global carbon emissions from transportation in the 2010s | Highest |
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What You'll Learn
US carbon emissions history
The United States has historically emitted more carbon than any other country and is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide heating the planet. In 2020, the US produced 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the second largest in the world after China. In 2019, China emitted 27% of world GHG, followed by the US with 11%, then India with 6.6%. The US has emitted a quarter of world GHG, more than any other country. Annual emissions are over 15 tons per person, and the richest decile in the US emits over 55 tonnes of CO2 per capita each year.
The US has been burning coal, oil, and natural gas for far longer than China. Despite having a population four times that of the US, China still burns far less fossil fuel on average per person. China's emissions are also partly a result of producing goods for the US and other rich countries.
In 2022, US greenhouse gas emissions totaled 6,343 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, and 5,489 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents after accounting for sequestration from the land sector. US emissions increased by 1% in 2022 compared to the previous year, driven largely by an increase in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. In 2020, buildings in the US consumed roughly 40% of the country's total electricity and contributed a similar percentage of GHG emissions.
In 2021, the electric power sector was the second-largest source of US greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 25% of the US total. The largest single source was transportation. US emissions in 2022 involved carbon dioxide (CO2, 79.7%), methane (CH4, 11.1%), nitrous oxide (N2O, 6.1%), and other gases (e.g. fluorinated gases, 3.1%).
The US government uses six "criteria pollutants" as indicators of air quality: ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and lead. However, these do not include carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The government also supports alternative energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuels, including wind power, solar power, geothermal power, and biofuel.
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China's surpassing of US emissions
The United States is responsible for the highest amount of cumulative carbon dioxide emissions in history, with 509 billion tons of emissions since 1850. This is almost twice the amount of China, which emitted 284 billion tons in the same period. However, China surpassed the US in annual emissions a decade ago, and its emissions today are about double the US figure.
In 2020, the US produced 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the second-largest in the world after China. In that year, China emitted 27% of global GHG, while the US emitted 11%. China's annual emissions are now 11.47 gigatons, and at this rate, it would take about 15 years to match the US's historical contribution.
The US and China are the world's two largest economies and polluters, and they are also the world's green tech powerhouses. If they can agree to accelerate plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it could significantly impact the world's ability to stay within safe limits of global warming.
China's rising emissions are related to manufacturing, with many of the resulting products purchased by American consumers. The US imported $450.4 billion worth of goods from China in 2020 alone. If consumption-based emissions are considered, the US has already overspent its carbon budget.
Both countries are taking steps to address climate change. The US has not built a new coal plant since 2013, and there has been a 40% decline in coal-fired power generation over the last decade. China's renewables capacity surpassed 1,000 gigawatts in 2021, four times what it was a decade earlier. Wind and solar now exceed 300 gigawatts each, and one in four cars sold in China last year was electric.
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US per capita emissions
The United States has emitted a quarter of the world's greenhouse gases, more than any other country. In 2019, the US emitted 11% of the world's greenhouse gases, second only to China at 27%. The US has a relatively small population, with just over 4% of the world's population, yet it is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide heating the planet. China, by contrast, is responsible for less than a sixth.
The US has historically been the biggest carbon polluter in the world, and while it is no longer the world's largest single emitter of greenhouse gases, it still has the highest emissions per capita among the top eight emitters. In 2020, the US emitted over 15 tons of carbon dioxide per person, and the richest 10% in the US emit over 55 tons of CO2 per capita each year.
Per capita emissions vary by state, with Wyoming being the biggest CO2 emitter per capita in 2021, with 94 tons of CO2 per person, largely due to its heavily polluting coal industry. New York had the smallest carbon footprint in 2021, with less than 8 tons of CO2 per person.
The US government uses six "criteria pollutants" as indicators of air quality: ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and lead. These indicators do not include carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The US has implemented several programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP), which aims to reduce methane released into the atmosphere from coal mining, and the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), which promotes the use of landfill gas as a sustainable energy source. The government also supports alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuel.
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US emissions reduction efforts
The United States has historically emitted more greenhouse gases than any other country, and is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide that is heating the planet. In 2019, the US emitted 11% of global GHG emissions, second only to China with 27%. The US also has the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita among the top eight emitting countries.
Despite this, the US has made the most substantial reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over the past 15 years. Between 2007 and 2022, the US reduced carbon emissions by 879 million metric tons, or 14%. However, it is important to note that US carbon emissions are still higher than those of many other countries, and further action is needed to meet its emissions targets.
At the federal level, the US government has implemented various programs and policies to reduce emissions and promote clean energy. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) under the Biden Administration is mobilizing record investments in clean energy solutions and enhancing the government's climate policy package. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also revised regulations in the power and transport sectors. Additionally, the government supports alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuel through programs like the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) and the Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP).
At the state level, 23 states and the District of Columbia have established economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions targets. California, in particular, has implemented the Cap-and-Trade Program, which sets a statewide cap on emissions that declines annually. The state also has advanced clean car regulations, including the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations. Other states with emissions reduction targets for 2020 included Connecticut, Oregon, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
While the US has made progress in reducing emissions, it still faces challenges in meeting its domestic and international climate targets. The US 2030 domestic emissions reduction target is consistent with 2°C of warming but not yet aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit. To achieve its goals, the US needs to strengthen its policies, address rising electricity demand, and reverse the trend of increasing fossil fuel extraction. Additionally, the agriculture sector lacks a clear decarbonization objective, and more efforts are needed to reduce emissions from the buildings sector.
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US contribution to global warming
The United States has historically emitted more greenhouse gases than any other country, and its emissions per capita are also the highest in the world. In 2020, the US produced 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the second-largest in the world after China. The US emitted 11% of the world's GHG in 2019, and in total, the US has emitted a quarter of the world's GHG, more than any other country. The US has emitted over 20% of global emissions since 1850 or the start of the industrial revolution, almost double that of China, the second-largest emitter.
The US has a low Environmental Performance Index score, indicating that it has done very little to combat environmental problems like climate change while contributing more than any other country by a wide margin. The US has been burning coal, oil, and natural gas for far longer than China, and today, with just over 4% of the world's population, it is responsible for almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide heating the planet. China, with four times the population, burns far less fossil fuel per capita.
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US is the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. In 2022, the US emitted 6,343.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, with carbon dioxide (79.7%), methane (11.1%), nitrous oxide (6.1%), and fluorinated gases (3.1%) being the most common gases. Methane and nitrous oxide are more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide, but carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries. The average carbon dioxide concentration in 2024 was over 50% higher than its pre-industrial level.
The US government uses six "criteria pollutants" as indicators of air quality: ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and lead. The government also supports alternative energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuels, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuel. The Cap-and-Trade Program is a market-based carbon pricing program that sets a statewide cap on emissions, which declines annually and applies to large emitters that account for over 80% of California's GHG emissions. The Advanced Clean Cars program addresses GHG emissions and criteria air pollutants in California through the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2020, the US produced 11% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, second only to China.
In 2021, the largest source of US greenhouse gas emissions was transportation, followed by the electric power sector.
The US has the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
The US is historically responsible for more emissions than any other country. Therefore, when interpreting current emissions data, it is important to consider the US's cumulative emissions over time.
The US's emissions have implications for global agreements such as the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. US emissions will continue to drive global warming, and any future emissions will undermine progress toward this goal.
