Carbon dioxide emissions per person in the U.S. 2020-2050

Due to lockdowns and restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, emissions around the world fell significantly. In the United States, carbon dioxide emissions per capita dropped to 13.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Projections show that emissions will recover in the coming years but will begin to decline after 2022. Reductions in U.S. per capita emissions will continue to fall until reaching a low of 12.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by the late 2030s. Emissions are then projected to level off and remain steady until the mid-century.

Carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. have fallen

Although the U.S. remains one of the biggest emitters worldwide, in recent years carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. have been in decline. One of the reasons for this decline is a move away from energy production from coal, in addition to the increased use of renewable energy sources in the country’s electricity generation fuel mix.

Clean energy revolution in the U.S.

Several environmental policies were revoked during Donald Trump’s term in office, as well as the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. However, hours after his inauguration in January 2021, President Biden signed a number of executive orders to tackle the climate crisis such as reinstating the U.S. to the Paris agreement, as well as revoking the disputed Keystone XL project. Major investment in clean energy is also planned in a bid for the U.S. to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.