Andrew Friedman reports for Axios that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions jumped in 2021.
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- Emissions in the United States increased by 6.2% from 2020 to 2021, but remained below 2019 levels according to a new study published by the Rhodium Group.
- The spike in greenhouse gas emissions was caused in large part to a rise in coal generation and a surge in road freight transportation due to increased consumer demand.
- The high cost of natural gas, a result of less production and more government-imposed barriers, was one of drivers of increased coal use in 2021.
- To counter this uptick in emissions governments should look to reduce impediments and harmful regulations and allow the private sector to innovate and thrive.
“U.S. emissions increased 6.2% when compared to 2020 levels, but they still wound up at about 5% below that of the pre-pandemic year of 2019. The new report, released Monday and based on preliminary data, shows that emissions grew slightly faster than the economy did.”
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