COVID-19 pandemic contributes to 11 percent decrease in U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020
Primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions, the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Monthly Energy Review reported that U.S. CO2 emissions decreased by 11 percent last year, tumbling in every end-use sector.
It was the first such fall since 2012, but changes varied significantly, sector by sector. Coal emissions fell 19 percent, even as natural gas-related CO2 rose 3 percent. At the same time, renewable generation helped lower overall carbon intensity, thanks to an increase in generation from wind and solar by 17 percent.
Based on each industry sector’s share of total electricity consumption, emissions shifted due to less travel, restrictions, slowed manufacturing operations, and, at home, declining carbon intensity in the power sector. Relatively mild winter weather also helped keep use down.
Transportation emissions fell 20 percent, representing the greatest sector of impact, as more people than ever were forced to work from home and online. Petroleum, which accounts for the majority of transportation CO2 emissions, experienced a 15 percent decline in emissions. The commercial field produced 12 percent less emissions last year, with both commercial electricity and petroleum emissions falling 13 percent and natural gas emissions by 11 percent.
The industrial side produced 8 percent less emissions in 2020, with emissions from coal and electricity down by 15 percent each, petroleum by 8 percent, and natural gas by 2 percent. Rounding things out was the residential sector, which also saw a decline of 6 percent emissions, despite the sheer number of people kept at home. Only a 1 percent decrease in residential energy consumption was reported that year despite mild winter weather. However, residential petroleum emissions still fell by 11 percent, natural gas by 7 percent, and electricity by 5 percent.
