Carbon Contraction
05/26/2022 |
US CO2 emissions rose steadily from a recession trough of 4.4 billion metric tons in 1983 to 6.0 Bmt in 2007. Since, they have steadily fallen, bottoming in 2020, due to Covid-19, at 4.6 Bmt, the same level as 1984. In 2021, as the economy recovered, emissions rose to 4.9 Bmt. Ignoring 2020, 4.9 Bmt is the lowest CO2 level since 1988. Meanwhile, Chinese emissions are double ours and rising.