It’s always one step forward and three steps back when it comes to how the U.S. is handling reducing emissions. There’s some good news when it comes to last year’s emissions numbers: 2021 saw fewer tons of greenhouse gases being released than in 2019. But compared with 2020, it appears as if greenhouse gas emissions have decently bounced back. A preliminary report released by the nonpartisan research provider Rhodium Group found that last year “emissions increased 6.2% relative to 2020, though emissions remained 5% below 2019 levels.” The economy, however, appears to still be lagging. Goldman Sachs, S&P Global Ratings, and others forecast that year-over-year GDP growth will likely only be around 5.7% at the most for 2021.
Study co-author Kate Larsen told CNN that she credited coal for the spike in emissions. “Emissions grew even faster than the economic recovery and that was largely the rebound in coal generation.” Larsen also noted that few restrictions dissuaded companies from taking the cheaper, less economically-friendly option of using more fossil fuels. The Energy Information Administration believes that this may not be the trend for years to come, as natural gas prices spiking likely accounted for the main reason coal power increased for the first time since 2014. There seems to be a transition away from damaging fossil fuel, as coal stocks are low and production has only slightly increased. More than a quarter of coal-fired power plants will be retired by 2035, the EIA also noted in a December report.
Meeting the needs of consumers without hurting their pocketbooks may sound noble but it’s an incredibly short-sighted remedy given how much harm coal does to the planet. Coal-fire power accounts for the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the world and is directly linked with extreme weather events. And those weather events have certainly added up for the U.S.
In 2021 alone, the U.S. experienced 20 disasters with price tags of at least $1 billion per extreme weather event. Those natural disasters include Hurricane Ida, which was the costliest for the country at $75 billion. Texas’ devastating winter storm ranked second at a cost of $24 billion, while wildfires in the Western U.S. cost $10.6 billion. That includes the late-season Marshall Fire in Colorado. The fires that sparked in Colorado just weeks ago were strengthened by extreme weather, including wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, record high temperatures, and continuing drought conditions. Build Back Better includes incentives like tax credits for wildfire mitigation and millions allocated to develop more efficient carbon capture technologies and find greener ways to power the country.
Mitigating climate change could hold the key to making sure the U.S. is better prepared for natural disasters without also contributing so heavily to them. With plans for the country to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050, decisive action must be taken. Call on lawmakers to pass the Build Back Better Act. And let me know your thoughts in the comments about how best to achieve net-zero. Is swapping coal-fire power plants for natural gas the right move? What about the Biden administration's plans for half of the new cars hitting the road in 2030 to be electric?
Study co-author Kate Larsen told CNN that she credited coal for the spike in emissions. “Emissions grew even faster than the economic recovery and that was largely the rebound in coal generation.” Larsen also noted that few restrictions dissuaded companies from taking the cheaper, less economically-friendly option of using more fossil fuels. The Energy Information Administration believes that this may not be the trend for years to come, as natural gas prices spiking likely accounted for the main reason coal power increased for the first time since 2014. There seems to be a transition away from damaging fossil fuel, as coal stocks are low and production has only slightly increased. More than a quarter of coal-fired power plants will be retired by 2035, the EIA also noted in a December report.
Meeting the needs of consumers without hurting their pocketbooks may sound noble but it’s an incredibly short-sighted remedy given how much harm coal does to the planet. Coal-fire power accounts for the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the world and is directly linked with extreme weather events. And those weather events have certainly added up for the U.S.
In 2021 alone, the U.S. experienced 20 disasters with price tags of at least $1 billion per extreme weather event. Those natural disasters include Hurricane Ida, which was the costliest for the country at $75 billion. Texas’ devastating winter storm ranked second at a cost of $24 billion, while wildfires in the Western U.S. cost $10.6 billion. That includes the late-season Marshall Fire in Colorado. The fires that sparked in Colorado just weeks ago were strengthened by extreme weather, including wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, record high temperatures, and continuing drought conditions. Build Back Better includes incentives like tax credits for wildfire mitigation and millions allocated to develop more efficient carbon capture technologies and find greener ways to power the country.
Mitigating climate change could hold the key to making sure the U.S. is better prepared for natural disasters without also contributing so heavily to them. With plans for the country to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050, decisive action must be taken. Call on lawmakers to pass the Build Back Better Act. And let me know your thoughts in the comments about how best to achieve net-zero. Is swapping coal-fire power plants for natural gas the right move? What about the Biden administration's plans for half of the new cars hitting the road in 2030 to be electric?