America Reduced Emissions

Here’s How America Reduced Emissions More Than Any Other Major Country Despite Leaving The Paris Accords

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Thomas Catenacci Energy & Environment Reporter

October 30, 2021 8:15 PM ET

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• The U.S. has reduced emissions more than any other country in the world despite former President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Paris Climate Accords.
• “In the last 10 years, the emissions reduction in the United States has been the largest in the history of energy,” International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said at a Department of Energy press conference in 2019.
• Immediately after taking office in 2017, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris accords, arguing the agreement harmed American economic competitiveness and wouldn’t make a significant impact on the climate.

The U.S. has reduced emissions more than any other country in the world despite former President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Paris Climate Accords.

“In the last 10 years, the emissions reduction in the United States has been the largest in the history of energy,” International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said at a Department of Energy press conference in 2019. “Almost 800 million tons. This is a huge decline of emissions.”

Since 2000, the year the U.S. emitted the most carbon dioxide, emissions have declined by more than 17%, according to the IEA. Emissions have declined 3.7% since 2015 when world leaders signed an agreement with various climate commitments during a high-level United Nations conference.

During both periods, U.S. energy output has increased by 38% and 14% respectively, the IEA data showed. (RELATED: White House Adviser Says There’s An ‘Energy Crisis,’ Doubles Down On Calls For Boosted Foreign Oil, Gas Production)