Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions recorded in the United States rose sharply during 2018, after falling for three consecutive years. This was revealed by an independent study from research institute Rhodium Group, published on 8 January. The document estimated growth in the quantity of gas released into the atmosphere by all American productive systems at 3.4 per cent compared to 2017. A trend that is certainly a product of the economic recovery, but also of decisions taken by the Washington administration.

The largest increase since 2010

If confirmed by US public bodies, the figure indicated by Rhodium Group represents the largest annual increase recorded since 2010. The data – which are preliminary for now – were obtained by processing official government statistics from Washington, as well as from public and private bodies, relating, for example, to fossil fuel consumption or electricity generation.

Leggi anche: 12 anni per agire o il clima impazzirà

The results indicate that in 2018 emissions rose across all major sectors: energy, transport, industry and real estate. This is despite the fact that, at least in the period from January to October of last year, electricity production from coal-fired power stations — the most polluting — fell sharply. The number of closures of such sites hit a record. However, it was not renewables that offset this decline, but natural gas. Which is less harmful in terms of CO2 emissions than coal, but certainly does not reach the levels of solar and wind.

The sector most responsible for releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, however, turned out to be transport. For the third consecutive year, consumption of fuels to move people and goods is the leading cause of emissions in the United States. A trend driven in particular by air and road transport.

"The United States falling even further behind on climate targets"

It should also be noted that the Rhodium Group report focuses solely on CO2. It does, in fact, account for around three quarters of total greenhouse gas emissions, but not all of them. The comprehensive data — which will include, for example, methane as well — will be released in 2020 by the EPA, the US Environmental Protection Agency. Taking into account the policies announced (and partly already implemented) by President Donald Trump, however, it is hard to imagine there could be any positive surprises.

Leggi anche: Clima, il 2018 è stato l'anno più caldo in Italia dal 1800

According to the researchers, moreover, there is no need to wait that long to conclude that "the United States was already behind on the targets of the Paris Agreement. Now the gap is even wider." A graph published in the report highlights a dangerous deviation in CO2 emissions from the trajectory needed to keep the rise in global temperature, by the end of the century, within a maximum of 2 degrees centigrade.