Politics

The State Where CO2 Pollution is Skyrocketing: Every State Ranked

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24/7 Wall St. Staff
Published:

Statistics on average global temperatures indicate that 2023 will go down as the hottest year ever recorded. According to data from the World Meteorological Organization, the eight years prior to 2023 were also the hottest on record. The alarming effects of long-term changes in weather patterns can be observed in the U.S. and across the globe.

The Biden administration took significant action to combat the climate crisis by signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law in 2022. This legislation allocates almost $370 billion to the effort and represents a pivotal step towards the administration’s objective of halving U.S. greenhouse emissions by 2030. Yet, it could be years before substantial results are seen, and America continues to release billions of metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.

Referencing data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 24/7 Wall St. pinpointed some of the states accountable for the most significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions. The rankings of the listed states is based on the percentage change in total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions between 2020 and 2021, the most recent data available. These emissions originate from sources that include commercial, industrial, transportation, residential, and power generation. Data on carbon emissions per capita is also from the Energy Information Administration.

During the period from 2020 to 2021, the U.S. saw a 6.9% increase in energy-related carbon emissions, totaling almost 317 million metric tons. Most states saw increases in greenhouse gas emissions ranging from 1.4% to 16.2%, with Wyoming, Mississippi, and Virginia being the only states that experienced a decline in emissions.

The good news is that the recent nationwide rise in carbon emissions might have been an aberration. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in America’s carbon footprint due to shelter-in-place policies diminishing energy demand and fossil fuel burning. However, in 2021, a spike in carbon emissions occurred as demand for consumer goods increased, coal usage rose amid escalating natural gas prices, and widespread vaccinations created a return to a more typical lifestyle for many people.

Further evidence supporting this claim can be found in the longer-term trends of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Between 2017 and 2021, carbon emissions decreased in all but eight states, with almost half of them seeing a reduction of 5% or more.

Why This Matters

Firefighters team battle a wildfire because climate change and global warming is a driver of global wildfire trends.
Source: Toa55 / Shutterstock.com

The US emits about 5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually (as of 2021). This is more than twice what all 28 countries of the European Union do. Historically, the US has released the most CO2 of any country since 1850. Since carbon dioxide is a long-lived greenhouse gas that stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years, the US has to step up and accept responsibility for its part in global warming. As the detrimental economic effects of global warming cannot be stressed enough, we are writing this article to sensitize you to which states still have a problem, and which states are moving forward in combatting this problem.

These are states where carbon emissions are on the rise:

50. Wyoming

Jim Bridger Power Plant at Sunset with Steam coming from smokestacks at Point of Rocks Wyoming
Source: Azariah Reese / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: -1.9% (-1.0 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -13.1% (-8.2 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 94.3 metric tons per person – the highest (54.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 96.2 metric tons per person – the highest (55.6 million metric tons total)

49. Virginia

Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: -0.2% (-222,446 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -7.2% (-7.6 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 11.3 metric tons per person – 16th lowest (98.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 11.4 metric tons per person – 19th lowest (98.2 million metric tons total)

48. Mississippi

The ExxonMobil oil refinery seen from the Louisiana capitol tower in Baton Rouge, USA
Source: Nina Alizada / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: -0.2% (-98,052 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +4.3% (+2.6 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 21.4 metric tons per person – 15th highest (63.1 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 21.3 metric tons per person – 11th highest (63.2 million metric tons total)

47. South Dakota

Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +1.4% (+204,640 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +3.4% (+500,422 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 16.9 metric tons per person – 20th highest (15.2 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 16.8 metric tons per person – 20th highest (15.0 million metric tons total)

46. New Mexico

Smoke from the pipes
Source: PhotoHouse / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +1.5% (+675,752 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -7.5% (-3.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 21.7 metric tons per person – 13th highest (45.9 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 21.3 metric tons per person – 12th highest (45.2 million metric tons total)

45. Nebraska

Coal Plant Smoke, Smog, Blue Sky
Source: LAVID_LaVerne / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +1.5% (+712,840 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -1.4% (-649,832 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 24.0 metric tons per person – 9th highest (47.2 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 23.7 metric tons per person – 7th highest (46.5 million metric tons total)

44. Oregon

Factory at beautiful Columbia river bank, Washington and Oregon in calm weather
Source: nektofadeev / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +2.7% (+1.0 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -0.7% (-255,132 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 9.1 metric tons per person – 6th lowest (38.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 8.8 metric tons per person – 6th lowest (37.5 million metric tons total)

43. Vermont

Source: ErikaMitchell / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +2.8% (+149,613 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -4.4% (-258,736 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 8.6 metric tons per person – 5th lowest (5.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 8.4 metric tons per person – 5th lowest (5.4 million metric tons total)

42. Louisiana

Plant at Mississippi river bank. Louisiana, USA
Source: nektofadeev / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +2.9% (+5.3 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -2.5% (-4.8 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 40.8 metric tons per person – 5th highest (188.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 39.4 metric tons per person – 5th highest (183.3 million metric tons total)

41. Kansas

The La Cygne Generating Station, a coal-fired power power plant in Kansas.
Source: Lazer Images Worldwide / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +3.4% (+2.0 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +1.2% (+725,806 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 20.3 metric tons per person – 17th highest (59.8 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 19.7 metric tons per person – 15th highest (57.8 million metric tons total)

40. Arizona

View of smoking smoke stacks of a generating station at the Navajo reservation, Arizona, USA. Desert landscape violated by an air polluting power plant, smog and gloomy sky. Polluting energy source.
Source: Alex Lerner / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +3.6% (+2.9 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -8.2% (-7.5 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 11.4 metric tons per person – 17th lowest (83.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 11.2 metric tons per person – 18th lowest (80.2 million metric tons total)

39.
Source: ablokhin / Getty Images

  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +3.9% (+489,763 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -5.8% (-802,128 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 12.9 metric tons per person – 21st lowest (13.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 12.6 metric tons per person – 23rd lowest (12.5 million metric tons total)

38. Oklahoma

Smoke rises from a refinery plant in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
Source: RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +4.1% (+3.4 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -6.0% (-5.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 22.0 metric tons per person – 12th highest (87.8 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 21.3 metric tons per person – 13th highest (84.4 million metric tons total)

37. North Dakota

Coal fired electric power plant
Source: David Gaylor / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +4.2% (+2.3 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -0.7% (-382,006 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 72.7 metric tons per person – 2nd highest (56.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 69.6 metric tons per person – 2nd highest (54.3 million metric tons total)

36. Ohio

A coal plant on the Ohio River near Cincinnati Ohio USA
Source: Anne Kitzman / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +4.5% (+8.4 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -5.4% (-11.0 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 16.5 metric tons per person – 21st highest (194.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 15.7 metric tons per person – 21st highest (185.7 million metric tons total)

35. Idaho

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.0% (+1.2 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +9.7% (+1.8 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 10.8 metric tons per person – 14th lowest (20.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 10.5 metric tons per person – 16th lowest (19.4 million metric tons total)

34. Minnesota

Air pollution in the city of Minneapolis. View of Minneapolis skyline with heavy air pollution from fires in Canada in July 2015.
Source: BlueGreen / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.1% (+4.8 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -8.9% (-8.1 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 14.6 metric tons per person – 25th lowest (83.2 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 13.7 metric tons per person – 25th highest (78.4 million metric tons total)

33.Texas
green trees in front of dirty petrochemical factory or oil refinery polluting carbon and pollution into the cloudy smog skies cuasing climate change and global warming and extreme weather events
Source: Roschetzky Photography / Shutterstock.com

  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.2% (+38.8 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -0.2% (-1.6 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 22.4 metric tons per person – 11th highest (663.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 21.4 metric tons per person – 10th highest (624.7 million metric tons total)

32. Wisconsin

Lake Michigan Coal Power Plant at Sunset
Source: Ralf Broskvar / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.2% (+5.4 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -6.3% (-6.2 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 15.7 metric tons per person – 23rd highest (92.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 14.8 metric tons per person – 23rd highest (87.0 million metric tons total)

31. New Jersey

Source: ablokhin / Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.3% (+5.3 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -10.3% (-10.2 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 9.6 metric tons per person – 9th lowest (89.1 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 9.0 metric tons per person – 10th lowest (83.8 million metric tons total)

30. Georgia

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.5% (+7.5 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -12.5% (-17.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 11.5 metric tons per person – 18th lowest (124.1 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 10.9 metric tons per person – 17th lowest (116.6 million metric tons total)

29. California

Pollution on a clear morning over Long Beach, California.
Source: Katharine Moore / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.7% (+20.2 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -9.1% (-32.5 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 8.3 metric tons per person – 3rd lowest (324.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 7.7 metric tons per person – 3rd lowest (303.8 million metric tons total)

28. New Hampshire

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.7% (+831,385 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -1.6% (-222,708 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 9.6 metric tons per person – 8th lowest (13.3 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 9.0 metric tons per person – 9th lowest (12.5 million metric tons total)

27. Maine

Source: zhudifeng / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.7% (+904,274 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -6.3% (-969,048 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 10.5 metric tons per person – 13th lowest (14.4 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 9.9 metric tons per person – 13th lowest (13.5 million metric tons total)

26. Colorado

Source: terry6970 / Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +6.8% (+5.5 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -3.8% (-3.4 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 14.7 metric tons per person – 25th highest (85.4 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 13.8 metric tons per person – 24th highest (79.9 million metric tons total)

25. Massachusetts

Paper mill in a forest
Source: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +7.3% (+3.8 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -13.3% (-8.6 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 8.0 metric tons per person – 2nd lowest (56.1 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 7.5 metric tons per person – 2nd lowest (52.3 million metric tons total)

24. Missouri

Old Union Light & Power, Ashley Street, St Louis
Source: Public House Design / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +7.6% (+8.2 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -6.1% (-7.6 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 19.0 metric tons per person – 18th highest (117.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 17.7 metric tons per person – 18th highest (108.7 million metric tons total)

23. Indiana

Source: dszc / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +7.7% (+11.9 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -5.4% (-9.5 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 24.4 metric tons per person – 8th highest (166.4 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 22.7 metric tons per person – 8th highest (154.4 million metric tons total)

22. Washington

Factory at beautiful Columbia river bank, Washington and Oregon in calm weather
Source: nektofadeev / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +7.9% (+5.4 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -6.7% (-5.3 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 9.5 metric tons per person – 7th lowest (73.8 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 8.9 metric tons per person – 7th lowest (68.4 million metric tons total)

21. Michigan

Aerial view of the Monroe Coal-Fired Power Plant on the shore of Lake Erie, Monroe Michigan
Source: Matthew G Eddy / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.0% (+11.0 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -5.0% (-7.9 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 14.7 metric tons per person – 24th highest (147.8 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 13.6 metric tons per person – 25th lowest (136.9 million metric tons total)

20. Alaska

view of downtown fairbanks alaska across frozen chena river on clear winter morning
Source: FloridaStock / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.0% (+2.9 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +15.2% (+5.1 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 53.0 metric tons per person – 3rd highest (38.9 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 49.1 metric tons per person – 3rd highest (36.0 million metric tons total)

19. Utah

Layer of smog blankets Salt Lake City in late autumn, Utah, USA
Source: salilbhatt / Shutterstock.com

  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.1% (+4.7 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +5.1% (+3.0 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 18.6 metric tons per person – 19th highest (62.1 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 17.5 metric tons per person – 19th highest (57.4 million metric tons total)

18. Illinois

Smoking Refinery in Illinois, USA.
Source: Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.3% (+14.1 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -10.6% (-21.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 14.5 metric tons per person – 24th lowest (184.2 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 13.3 metric tons per person – 24th lowest (170.2 million metric tons total)

17. Rhode Island

Source: TW Farlow / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.3% (+815,845 metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +6.8% (+676,797 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 9.7 metric tons per person – 10th lowest (10.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 9.0 metric tons per person – 8th lowest (9.8 million metric tons total)

16. Connecticut

Industrial complex on Tongue Point in Bridgeport, CT, USA.
Source: Micha Weber / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.3% (+2.8 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): +8.0% (+2.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 10.1 metric tons per person – 11th lowest (36.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 9.4 metric tons per person – 11th lowest (33.8 million metric tons total)

15. North Carolina

Coal power plant on Lake Julian in Arden, North Carolina.
Source: Duncan M. Hill / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.4% (+9.0 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -4.6% (-5.6 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 10.9 metric tons per person – 15th lowest (115.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 10.2 metric tons per person – 14th lowest (106.6 million metric tons total)

14. Montana

Source: milehightraveler / Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.5% (+2.2 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -8.7% (-2.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 25.8 metric tons per person – 6th highest (28.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 24.2 metric tons per person – 6th highest (26.3 million metric tons total)

13. New York

Source: AlexanderVasin / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.8% (+12.6 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -5.9% (-9.8 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 7.9 metric tons per person – the lowest (156.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 7.1 metric tons per person – the lowest (143.4 million metric tons total)

12. Nevada

NEVADA, UNITED STATES - December 24, 2009: Power plant with smoke stacks releasing pollution
Source: Karin Hildebrand Lau / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +8.9% (+3.2 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -1.9% (-782,687 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 12.5 metric tons per person – 20th lowest (39.4 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 11.6 metric tons per person – 20th lowest (36.2 million metric tons total)

11. Florida

Source: CHUYN / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +9.0% (+18.6 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -5.1% (-12.1 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 10.4 metric tons per person – 12th lowest (226.3 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 9.6 metric tons per person – 12th lowest (207.7 million metric tons total)

10. South Carolina

Industrial paper mill factory plant with chimney smokestacks stacks emitting carbon dioxide emission pollution in Georgetown, South Carolina town
Source: Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +9.1% (+5.8 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -0.9% (-625,075 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 13.4 metric tons per person – 23rd lowest (69.3 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 12.4 metric tons per person – 22nd lowest (63.6 million metric tons total)

9. Maryland

Source: Joesboy / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +9.3% (+4.5 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -4.5% (-2.5 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 8.5 metric tons per person – 4th lowest (52.6 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 7.8 metric tons per person – 4th lowest (48.1 million metric tons total)

8. Kentucky

Source: catnap72 / E+ via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +10.0% (+10.1 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -4.7% (-5.5 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 24.7 metric tons per person – 7th highest (111.3 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 22.4 metric tons per person – 9th highest (101.2 million metric tons total)

7. Alabama

Source: toddmedia / E+ via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +10.1% (+10.0 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -0.2% (-202,453 metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 21.5 metric tons per person – 14th highest (108.4 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 19.6 metric tons per person – 16th highest (98.4 million metric tons total)

6. Pennsylvania

Source: sdominick / E+ via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +10.5% (+20.2 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -0.8% (-1.8 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 16.4 metric tons per person – 22nd highest (213.5 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 14.9 metric tons per person – 22nd highest (193.3 million metric tons total)

5. Tennessee

Source: catnap72 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +11.2% (+9.4 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -4.9% (-4.7 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 13.3 metric tons per person – 22nd lowest (92.7 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 12.0 metric tons per person – 21st lowest (83.3 million metric tons total)

4. Iowa

Source: Digiphoto / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +11.4% (+7.5 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -4.1% (-3.2 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 22.9 metric tons per person – 10th highest (73.1 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 20.6 metric tons per person – 14th highest (65.7 million metric tons total)

3. Arkansas

Source: dlewis33 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +13.3% (+7.3 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -3.4% (-2.2 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 20.5 metric tons per person – 16th highest (62.0 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 18.2 metric tons per person – 17th highest (54.7 million metric tons total)

2. West Virginia

Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +14.9% (+11.5 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -2.7% (-2.4 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021: 49.5 metric tons per person – 4th highest (88.4 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020: 43.0 metric tons per person – 4th highest (76.9 million metric tons total)

1. Hawaii

hydroelectric factory in Kauai Hawaii - dec 2022. High quality photo
Source: Brester Irina / Shutterstock.com
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2020 to 2021: +16.2% (+2.4 million metric tons)
  • Change in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions (2017 to 2021): -15.1% (-3.1 million metric tons)
  • Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2021: 12.0 metric tons per person – 19th lowest (17.3 million metric tons total)
  • Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2020: 10.3 metric tons per person – 15th lowest (14.9 million metric tons total)

Buffett Missed These Two…

Warren Buffett loves dividend stocks, and has stuffed Berkshire with some of his favorites.

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Unlock the two dividend legends Buffett missed in this new free report.
Read more: Politics, carbon emissions, eia, greenhouse gas emissions by state, states making climate change worse, states with rising co2 emissions, states with the most carbon emissions

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