Report: 14 States Increased Per-Capita Carbon Emissions

While average fuel efficiency increased by 30 percent between 2005 and 2022 and per-capita carbon emissions in the United States dropped by 25 percent, fourteen states actually saw increased per-capita carbon emissions in the same time frame.

As Streetsblog USA’s Kea Wilson explains, “According to EPA estimates compiled by Environment America, not only did the transportation emissions rise in the Filthy Fourteen, but emissions were essentially flat in another five states, including Arizona and New Mexico.”

The list includes a group of Republican-leaning states that sued the federal government over a rule that would have required them to report their emissions. “The red state lawsuit aside, though, it's worth noting that blue states like Colorado and Delaware were on the list of states that increased their transport emissions, too. Most states where transportation emissions decreased, meanwhile, still aren't on pace to meet our national goal of slashing 50 to 52 percent of 2005 levels by 2030.”

The report highlights the need for states to reduce transportation emissions rather than focusing on power sector emissions alone. “A recent Union of Concerned Scientists report found, though, that ‘visionary but feasible’ policies that reduce how much Americans need to drive would not only put states' transportation sector goals within reach, but would save U.S. residents a staggering $5.9 trillion in vehicle-related expenses, in addition to trillions in new energy infrastructure communities wouldn't have to build to power all those new EVs.”