Report: U.S. Sees Decline in Carbon Emissions

The United States in 2017 had the largest decline in carbon emissions in the world, according to conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute.  

Citing statistics published by oil giant BP, AEI said carbon emissions from energy grew globally by 1.6 percent in 2017. The U.S. had declines in emissions for the third year in a row, dropping to 0.5 percent, its lowest number since since 1992. 

China’s carbon production footprint grew, with emissions increasing by 1.6 percent and 199 tons in 2017. With India, China accounted for nearly half of the increase in global carbon emissions with a 212 million ton output, per the BP study.

The report was published the same day the California Air Resources Board said the state had beaten its self-imposed goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Legislature had set a goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels, and the state did so four years before the target year of 2020.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that CO2 emissions in the U.S. will increase in 2018 before leveling out in 2019 overall.

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