The United States’s greenhouse gas emissions rebounded in 2021, reflecting both the growing concerns about climate change and the economy’s return to a state of normalcy.
The rebound appears to come from a jump in coal-fired power and road transportation, according to a new report released on Monday.
The “economy-wide [greenhouse gas] emissions increased 6.2% relative to 2020, though emissions remained 5% below 2019 levels,” reports climate advocacy firm the Rhodium Group.
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This growth appears to mirror a similar shift in the economy, most notably a 6% increase in U.S. GDP, according to an International Monetary Fund forecast.
The steepest rise in emissions occurred in the transportation industry. Transportation emissions increased 10% from 2020, which Rodium argues is a reflection of “high demand for freight transportation of consumer products and a modest recovery of passenger travel.”
While energy emissions only rose by 3%, coal usage increased by 17% since 2020, which Rodium attributes to a “run-up in natural gas prices” that came about due to the “COVID oil price collapse” in 2020.
Democrats have pushed to minimize coal emissions, offering in September to help utility companies close their coal plants sooner.
This increase in emissions has moved the U.S. from meeting its Paris Agreement goal of reducing emissions 50% to 2005 levels by 2030, Rodium notes. The firm then concludes that the country will have to take more decisive action to achieve this goal.
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“Joint accelerated action by Congress, the federal executive branch, and leading states can put the 2030 target within reach, but all must act quickly in order to put the U.S. on track,” Rodium concludes.
2021 was a notable year for climate change, particularly as temperatures rise worldwide. Global average temperatures were 1.1-1.2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial standards, reported the Earth-monitoring program Copernicus on Monday.
