One U.S. State Boasts 33% Fewer Carbon Emissions Per Capita Than Any Other

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal published "The carbon footprint of household energy use in the United States," a peer-reviewed study of about 93 million homes which shows that 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States can be attributed to residential energy use. The study also found California households to be a step ahead of those in other states in limiting its carbon footprint, producing 33% fewer carbon emissions, reports Evan Webeck. "San Francisco’s household emissions were nearly three times lower than the national average — 1.03 tons of carbon dioxide per capita vs. 2.83 for the U.S. — and lower than any other major city included in the research paper. In Los Angeles, the average household contributed 2.28 tons of carbon dioxide for the year, compared to 3.64 in Oklahoma City, 3.11 in Denver and 2.69 in Boston," writes Webeck. The study was conducted to assess which states and communities needed to make the most dramatic change to meet goals set by the Paris Climate Agreement for the years 2025 and 2050. 

A few key indicators accurately predicted which states have the most significant carbon footprints. The vast majority of the lowest carbon-emitting states were in the west while all of the greatest carbon carbon-emitting states were in the south and central United States. Another key indicator: income. Households in U.S. zip codes with the highest incomes "contributed 25% more carbon dioxide than households in low-income neighborhoods," Webeck says. Webeck adds that density, usually associated with decreased carbon dioxide emissions was not correlated with decreased carbon emissions to the same extent as income correlation.