US Carbon Pollution Rose In 2025, a Reversal From Prior Years (nbcnews.com)
- Reference: 0180595230
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/01/16/043253/us-carbon-pollution-rose-in-2025-a-reversal-from-prior-years
- Source link: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/us-carbon-pollution-rose-2025-reversal-rcna253859
> The increase in greenhouse gas emissions is attributable to a combination of a cool winter, the explosive growth of data centers and cryptocurrency mining and higher natural gas prices, [2]according to the Rhodium Group , an independent research firm. Environmental policy rollbacks by President Donald Trump's administration were not significant factors in the increase because they were only put in place this year, the study authors said. Heat-trapping gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas are the major cause of worsening global warming, scientists say.
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> American emissions of carbon dioxide and methane had dropped 20% from 2005 to 2024, with a few one- or two-year increases in the overall downward trend. Traditionally, carbon pollution has risen alongside economic growth, but efforts to boost cleaner energy in recent years decoupled the two, so emissions would drop as gross domestic product rose. But that changed last year with pollution actually growing faster than economic activity, said study co-author Ben King, a director in Rhodium's energy group. He estimated the U.S. put 5.9 billion tons (5.35 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent in the air in 2025, which is 139 million tons (126 million metric tons) more than in 2024.
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> The cold 2025 winter meant more heating of buildings, which often comes from natural gas and fuel oil that are big greenhouse gas emitters, King said. A significant and noticeable jump in electricity demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining meant more power plants producing energy. That included plants using coal, which creates more carbon pollution than other fuel sources. A rise in natural gas prices helped create an 13% increase in coal power, which had shrunk by nearly two-thirds since its peak in 2007, King said.
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/us-carbon-pollution-rose-2025-reversal-rcna253859
[2] https://rhg.com/research/us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2025/
Higher natgas prices? (Score:2)
Why would higher prices on natgas increase carbon dioxide emissions?
Re:Higher natgas prices? (Score:4, Insightful)
Higher natural gas prices create an increase in coal power, which creates more carbon pollution.
Re: (Score:2)
Even if people chose coal as an alternative, there are only so many scenarios where that would be possible. Customers bound to natgas (particularly consumer-level users, of whom there are many) only have the choice of turning down the heat/using less hot water. In general, higher energy prices means less energy used which means less carbon emitted.
Re:Higher natgas prices? (Score:4, Insightful)
Because it becomes more cost effective to use less environmentally-friendly alternatives that produce more CO2, like coal, instead of natgas.
Profits > somewhere healthy to live. One of the many "Fsck you, I've got mine!" mantras of unfettered capitalism - it's almost like they're trying to come up with their own version of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition...
Re: (Score:3)
I don't know but I'd guess that it makes other CO2 intensive generation more attractive.
Ultimately, the majority of fossil fuel generation is doomed, renewables are now comfortably cheaper by pretty much any metric unless you put a very high value on 100% availability.
For a long while the west will probably need a rump of fossil generation because our entire system is built around 100% reliable grid power at any load. It will likely be the developing world that will get there first as they don't already hav
Re: (Score:2)
I'm still waiting on actual price comparisons between natgas and solar/wind + storage. Seems like every market that fully embraces renewables experiences high electrical prices despite continued assurances that renewables are cheap.
Disgusting, simply disgusting (Score:3)
It would raise my estimation of Average Man greatly if Republicans were voted out for this alone.
But I don't think they will be.
YOU ARE VOTING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DELIBERATELY FUCKING UP THE PLANET WE ALL LIVE ON.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure that even starting a war with Europe will be enough to get rid of Trump.
So much winning... (Score:2)
Reading about US stories, especially about policy changes and other government actions, reminds me of the "Florida man" stories... "What on earth have they done again?" ...
I love the bit about coal-powered data centers, given the impact of burning coal and the ever-growing need for data centers, that's match made in heaven.