US emissions drop, even as economy grows: analysis

by Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk - 01/10/24 6:12 PM ET

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

US emissions dropped 2 percent while economy grew: analysis

Planet-warming emissions in the U.S. dropped in 2023, even as the economy grew, according to a new analysis.

Research firm Rhodium Group determined that U.S. emissions fell 1.9 percent compared to 2022 and were 17.2 percent lower than they were in 2005.

At the same time, the American economy grew by 2.4 percent in 2023.

Rhodium Group noted that this was the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic that the U.S. saw both economic growth and an emissions decline.

The analysis attributed the emissions drop to a mild winter — meaning less energy used for heating —to less electricity coming from coal power.

Power sector emissions dropped 8 percent while residential and commercial building emissions dropped 4 percent.

Emissions from transportation actually rose by 1.6 percent, though fuel consumption was still lower than it was before the pandemic.

Read more in a full report at TheHill.com.

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