Surge in Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the U.S.

Preliminary results from an energy research company in the U.S. indicate that carbon dioxide emissions in the country surged significantly in 2018, while these emissions had remained relatively stable for three years. The Rhodium Group released these preliminary findings on Tuesday, January 8, highlighting the United States' failure to meet its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. According to the research group's findings, emissions of this gas increased by 3.4% last year, marking only the second time in two decades that such a surge has been recorded. The rise in carbon dioxide emissions has various causes, including an increase in the number of flights in the U.S., growth in freight transportation by truck, and greater oil use during the cold winter months. Even power plants, which had recorded a decreasing trend in carbon dioxide emissions in the years leading up to 2018, have ended this trend. Although several coal production facilities in the U.S. were shut down in 2018, the private sector in the natural gas sector has become highly active, which has contributed to the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. While carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. are still lower than the record set in 2005, the United States committed under the Paris Agreement during Obama's administration to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by at least 26% from 2005 levels by 2025. Donald Trump announced in 2017 that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but this process will take until next year to complete. Meanwhile, some liberal states and cities have declared their intention to remain committed to the terms of this agreement. Carbon dioxide emissions in 2017 were about 14% lower than the 2005 record, but in 2018 they were only 11.2% lower than that record.