What is causing the U.S. decline in CO2 emissions?
According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) first Global Energy and CO2 Status Report, renewables saw the highest growth rate of any energy source worldwide in 2017. At the same time, the world experienced an increase in carbon emissions as coal fired generation remains the dominant source of electric generation.
While carbon emissions increased worldwide, the U.S. actually saw a decrease in carbon emissions last year! The IEA attributes this decline in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to the increased deployment of renewables. According to the IEA, “Over 70% of global energy demand growth was met by oil, natural gas and coal, while renewables accounted for almost all of the rest.”
However, the IEA seems to overlook the impact natural gas has on this decline in CO2 emissions. The IEA reported that natural gas consumption for power grew 3 percent, the most of all fossil fuels.
The correlation between the decrease in CO2 emissions and the shift from coal to a cleaner fossil fuel (natural gas) is undeniable. According to Forbes, natural gas – not renewables – has been the largest driving factor in U.S. declining CO2 emissions.
Natural gas should be more of a focus for the U.S. and other countries as a way to reduce CO2 emissions going forward. It provides a cleaner, abundant, and inexpensive alternative to dirtier fossil fuels and credit should be given to its role in the decline we are seeing in CO2 emissions.
Katharine Markijohn, a law clerk at McDonald Hopkins, assisted with the writing of this blog
While carbon emissions increased worldwide, the U.S. actually saw a decrease in carbon emissions last year! The IEA attributes this decline in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions to the increased deployment of renewables. According to the IEA, “Over 70% of global energy demand growth was met by oil, natural gas and coal, while renewables accounted for almost all of the rest.”
However, the IEA seems to overlook the impact natural gas has on this decline in CO2 emissions. The IEA reported that natural gas consumption for power grew 3 percent, the most of all fossil fuels.
The correlation between the decrease in CO2 emissions and the shift from coal to a cleaner fossil fuel (natural gas) is undeniable. According to Forbes, natural gas – not renewables – has been the largest driving factor in U.S. declining CO2 emissions.
Natural gas should be more of a focus for the U.S. and other countries as a way to reduce CO2 emissions going forward. It provides a cleaner, abundant, and inexpensive alternative to dirtier fossil fuels and credit should be given to its role in the decline we are seeing in CO2 emissions.
Katharine Markijohn, a law clerk at McDonald Hopkins, assisted with the writing of this blog
