These States Have The Most Carbon Pollution In The Nation

View of a power plant with smoke emissions under a cloudy sky, depicting industrial energy production.

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With a $28 trillion economy and a population of over 340 million, the United States is one of the largest and wealthiest countries in the world. At the most fundamental level, carbon emissions are a byproduct of resource consumption, and given the size and wealth of the U.S. population, it should come as little surprise that the U.S. is also one of the world’s worst polluters – in both absolute and relative terms.

The United States generated 4.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 alone, more than any other country with the exception of China. Additionally, even though the U.S. is home to less than 5% of the global population, it accounts nearly 13% of the world’s annual carbon emissions.

Slowing the pace and reducing the severity of climate change will likely require meaningful reductions in global carbon emissions. And the latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration suggest the U.S. is moving in the right direction, as carbon emissions from energy production fell by about 3% nationwide in 2023.

Still, America’s carbon footprint is the sum of multiple factors, including personal energy use, state-level policy, and industrial practices. And some parts of the country appear to be taking reduction of climate-altering pollution more seriously than others.

Using data from the EIA, Climate Crisis 24/7 identified the U.S. states generating the most carbon pollution. To compare across varying population sizes, states are ranked by their per capita carbon emissions from energy production in 2022, the latest year of available data. Population figures used to calculate per capita rates are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Among the 25 states on this list, carbon emissions range from 15.1 metric tons to 96.2 metric tons per person. As is the case nationwide, transportation is the largest polluting sector in each one of these states, accounting for anywhere from 32.5% to 60.4% of total carbon emissions in 2022. Other sectors driving pollution in these states include industrial, commercial, electric power, and residential.

These are the states producing the most carbon dioxide pollution.

25. Colorado

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 15.1 metric tons per person (88.7 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 251 million Btu (19th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (38.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (32.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (13.9% of annual carbon emissions)

24. Wisconsin

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 15.3 metric tons per person (90.6 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 300 million Btu (21st highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (34.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (32.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (13.2% of annual carbon emissions)

23. Michigan

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 15.3 metric tons per person (154.0 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 270 million Btu (23rd lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (36.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (30.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Residential (13.5% of annual carbon emissions)

22. Pennsylvania

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 16.5 metric tons per person (213.5 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 288 million Btu (25th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (34.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (26.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (23.7% of annual carbon emissions)

21. Ohio

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 16.6 metric tons per person (196.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 298 million Btu (22nd highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (36.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (29.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (18.3% of annual carbon emissions)

20. South Dakota

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 17.0 metric tons per person (15.6 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 394 million Btu (9th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (43.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (26.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (17.0% of annual carbon emissions)

19. Utah

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 17.6 metric tons per person (60.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 251 million Btu (19th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (44.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (31.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (11.1% of annual carbon emissions)

18. Missouri

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 18.2 metric tons per person (112.9 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 281 million Btu (25th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (50.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (32.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (7.1% of annual carbon emissions)

17. Arkansas

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 20.6 metric tons per person (63.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 346 million Btu (16th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (48.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (30.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (13.2% of annual carbon emissions)

16. Kansas

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 21.1 metric tons per person (62.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 341 million Btu (17th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (37.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (28.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (22.2% of annual carbon emissions)

15. Alabama

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 21.4 metric tons per person (109.3 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 375 million Btu (12th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (45.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (33.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (16.5% of annual carbon emissions)

14. Oklahoma

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 21.5 metric tons per person (87.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 380 million Btu (11th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (35.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (29.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (27.4% of annual carbon emissions)

13. Texas

*Photo by Bearded Texan Travels on Pexels*

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 21.7 metric tons per person (663.0 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 459 million Btu (6th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Industrial (34.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (33.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (28.1% of annual carbon emissions)

12. New Mexico

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 22.0 metric tons per person (46.5 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 325 million Btu (18th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (38.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (33.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (18.8% of annual carbon emissions)

11. Mississippi

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 22.1 metric tons per person (65.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 374 million Btu (13th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (41.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (35.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (18.1% of annual carbon emissions)

10. Iowa

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 22.3 metric tons per person (71.5 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 445 million Btu (7th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Industrial (29.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (28.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Transportation (27.6% of annual carbon emissions)

9. Indiana

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 23.8 metric tons per person (163.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 383 million Btu (10th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (42.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (25.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Transportation (23.5% of annual carbon emissions)

8. Kentucky

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 24.2 metric tons per person (109.6 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 371 million Btu (14th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (50.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (30.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (12.8% of annual carbon emissions)

7. Nebraska

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 24.3 metric tons per person (48.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 430 million Btu (8th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (42.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (28.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (19.2% of annual carbon emissions)

6. Montana

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 26.0 metric tons per person (29.5 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 352 million Btu (15th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (45.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (26.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (15.4% of annual carbon emissions)

5. Louisiana

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 41.9 metric tons per person (191.8 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 925 million Btu (2nd highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Industrial (56.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (24.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (16.7% of annual carbon emissions)

4. West Virginia

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 44.7 metric tons per person (79.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 471 million Btu (5th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (64.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (15.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (14.8% of annual carbon emissions)

3. Alaska

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 56.3 metric tons per person (41.3 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 987 million Btu (the highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Industrial (51.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Transportation (32.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (6.9% of annual carbon emissions)

2. North Dakota

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 72.7 metric tons per person (57.0 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 861 million Btu (3rd highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (49.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (31.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Transportation (15.3% of annual carbon emissions)

1. Wyoming

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 96.2 metric tons per person (56.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 853 million Btu (4th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Electric power (62.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (20.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Transportation (12.6% of annual carbon emissions)

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