Change in Per Capita Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Selected States: U.S. Energy Information Administration Report Addresses Percentage Change Since 2005
September 25, 2025
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The United States Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) issued a September 15th report titled:
Change in per capita carbon dioxide emissions in selected states (2023) – percentage change since 2005 (“Report”).
The Report states that per capita carbon dioxide (“CO2”) from primary energy decreased in every state from 2005 to 2023.
The information is derived from EIA’s State Energy Data System.
Total energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States are stated to have fallen 20% over that time period, even though the population grew by 14%.
The Report states that the primary reason the CO2 emissions in the United States have declined is because of a decrease in the use of coal in the electric power sector. The stated reason is electricity generated from natural gas (which releases about half as many CO2 emissions per unit of energy when combusted as coal) and from non-CO2-emitting wind and solar generation.
A 1% increase in U.S. total CO2 emissions is forecasted in 2025, due to:
- Increased fossil fuel consumption for crude oil production.
- Electricity generation growth.
The EIA Report includes per capita CO2 emissions changes since 2005 for each state.
Arkansas CO2 emissions are noted to have declined 9% during that time period.
A copy of the EIA Report can be downloaded here.
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