The U.S. transportation sector emitted 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO2) from energy consumption in 2021, making it the most polluting sector in the country. The second largest contributor to emissions that year was the electric power sector.
Between 1990 and 2015, the electric power sector was the biggest source of CO2 emissions in the U.S., but emissions from this sector have been falling in recent decades as the country shifts towards cleaner energy sources and phases out coal. In comparison, transportation emissions have been rising, and in 2016 surpassed power sector emissions.
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption from 1975 to 2021, by end-use sector*
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
* These figures only include carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide emissions from biomass energy consumption are excluded from total emissions in this
statistic. According to the source, metric tons of carbon dioxide can be converted to metric tons of carbon equivalent by multiplying by 12/44.
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EIA. (April 26, 2022). U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption from 1975 to 2021, by end-use sector* (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA. "U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption from 1975 to 2021, by end-use sector* (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. April 26, 2022. Statista. Accessed May 24, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA. (2022). U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption from 1975 to 2021, by end-use sector* (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 24, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA. "U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Consumption from 1975 to 2021, by End-use Sector* (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Apr 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption from 1975 to 2021, by end-use sector* (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/ (last visited May 24, 2022)
