According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell by 1.7% in 2019 to 5,769 MtCO2eq (including LULUCF), i.e. 13% below their 2005 level. The decrease in total energy consumption in 2019 (compared to 2018) and to a continued shift from coal to gas and renewables in the power sector reduced emissions from fossil fuel combustion.
In 2019, CO2 accounted for 80% of total emissions, followed by methane (10%), nitrous oxide (7%) and fluorinated gases (3%). Transport is the largest emitter sector (29%), followed by electricity (25%), industry (23%), commercial and residential (13%) and agriculture (10%).
The United States, which re-entered the Paris agreement on climate change in February 2021, aims to achieve a net-zero carbon pollution free power sector by 2035. In February 2021, the United States and Canada agreed to work towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.