Large polluters cut greenhouse gas emissions 4 percent last year: US EPA data

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🗞️ Driving the news: Emissions from large polluters in the U.S. fell by 4% in 2023, according to new data from the EPA
• Power plants saw a significant 7.2% drop in greenhouse gases, contributing to an overall downward trend in emissions driven by a shift from coal to natural gas
• Meanwhile, emissions from oil and gas production rose 1.4%, reflecting a longer-term 16.4% increase since 2016

🔭 The context: The EPA's data is part of its greenhouse gas reporting program, which collects self-reported emissions from companies
• Power plants, classified as "large stationary sources," account for half of the nation's total emissions and have reduced their emissions by 33.8% since 2011
• The sector's decline contrasts with ongoing increases in the oil and gas industry

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The continued reduction in emissions from power plants indicates progress in decarbonizing the energy sector
• However, rising emissions from oil and gas pose a challenge to achieving climate goals, particularly as the U.S. seeks to reduce overall greenhouse gases and limit global warming

⏭️ What's next: The future trajectory of U.S. emissions will hinge on policies addressing the oil and gas sector's growth and further reducing reliance on fossil fuels
• New regulations, including environmental justice laws like those in New Jersey, could play a key role in shaping industrial emissions

💬 One quote: "The decline follows a longer-term emissions drop linked to a shift in fuel source from coal to gas," the EPA noted in its announcement

📈 One stat: Power plant emissions have decreased by 33.8% since 2011

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