Transportation is the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States. Direct emissions from the U.S. transportation sector increased 0.9 percent in 2023, to roughly 1.85 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). The second-largest contributor to U.S. CO₂ emissions from energy consumption in 2023 was the electric power sector, which generated 1.4 GtCO₂. Between 1990 and 2015, the electric power sector was the biggest source of CO₂ emissions from energy consumption in the U.S., but emissions from this sector have fallen significantly in recent decades as the country shifts toward cleaner energy sources and phases out coal.
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States from 1975 to 2023, by 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. Figures are direct emissions and exclude emissions from energy consumption in the electric power sector that are allocated to the end-use sectors in proportion to each sector's share of total electricity sales to ultimate customers.
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EIA. (March 26, 2024). Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States from 1975 to 2023, by sector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA. "Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States from 1975 to 2023, by sector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. March 26, 2024. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA. (2024). Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States from 1975 to 2023, by sector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Energy Consumption in The United States from 1975 to 2023, by Sector (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Mar 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
EIA, Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States from 1975 to 2023, by 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 October 31, 2024)
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the United States from 1975 to 2023, by sector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph], EIA, March 26, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/204879/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-by-sector-since-1950/
