America’s carbon emissions fell for the first time since Covid

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🗞️ Driving the news: America's greenhouse gas emissions from energy and industrial activities dropped by 1.9% in 2023, while its economy grew, marking the first time this decade that economic growth and climate pollution reduction occurred simultaneously
• The Rhodium Group's annual report highlights this significant trend

🔭 The context: Emissions have steadily decreased since peaking in 2005, with the U.S. emitting the same amount of carbon in 2023 as in 1991, despite substantial economic growth
• The power sector led the reductions, largely due to the declining coal industry and increased use of solar, wind, and nuclear energy, but transportation and industrial emissions, especially from the oil and gas industry, remain challenging

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The reduction in emissions is crucial for climate change mitigation, and while there's progress, the U.S. is still not on track to meet its Paris Agreement goals
• Addressing emissions in transportation and industry is key to achieving more significant climate impact

⏭️ What's next: The U.S. needs to triple its pollution reduction rate to meet the Paris Agreement targets by 2030
• While policies like the Inflation Reduction Act and new EPA rules may accelerate emission reductions, achieving the necessary cuts remains a significant challenge

💬 One quote: "America's oil and gas production reached an all-time high, the biggest contributor to the industrial sector's rising emissions” (Robinson Meyer, Author)

📈 One stat: In 2023, for the first time ever, nuclear power plants generated more electricity than coal plants in the U.S.

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