The emissions equation: How US emissions fell ~10% last year

The emissions equation: How US emissions fell ~10% last year

1/12/21 7:00PM

US greenhouse gas emissions fell more than 10% in 2020, according to estimates from Rhodium Group — putting US emissions at their lowest point for 30 years.

The big win for the environment was on transportation — which accounts for a little over 30% of US total emissions. With fewer travellers the demand for jet fuel, petrol and diesel were all down significantly on 2019. That alone meant 273 fewer million metric tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere in 2020 compared to 2019.

As Rhodium Group points out these historic falls mean that US emissions last year were more than 21% below those of 2005. That means the US is technically on track to meet its Paris Agreement goals of 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. Of course, that's only true if emissions don't immediately jump back up this year as economic activity returns. For the sake of the environment, hopefully some of those trips never come back.

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