US Historical CO2 Emissions

May 1, 2024

The electric power sector generated the most CO₂ emissions in the US through 2016, accounting for about 37% of the total. Since then, as more coal generation is shuttered and renewables are brought online, it has dropped below the transportation sector and accounted for 25% of total CO₂ emissions in 2022.

Over the past 3 years, the transportation sector has also seen a decline in its contribution to the total CO₂ emissions – dropping from its average of 34% (2015-2019) to 29% driven by new clean fuel regulations.

The Industrial sector ranked 3rd in CO₂ emissions and increased to 24% over the past 3 years from their historical range of 15% prior. Similarly, Agriculture and Commercial contributions to CO₂ emissions increased over the past few years from 7% the range to 10% for agriculture and 4% to 7% for commercial.

The Residential sector has steadily contributed about 6% of the total CO₂ emissions.

Sources:

1. Organization for economic co-operation and development. 2023. Available at https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=air_ghg
2. EPA. 2022. Inventory of Green House Gas Emissions and Sinks. Available at https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/US-GHG-Inventory-2023-Main-Text.pdf.