States Producing the Least Carbon Dioxide Pollution

Silhouette of a factory with smoke emissions against a vibrant sunset sky.

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Generating 4.9 billion metric tons of carbon emissions in 2022 alone, the U.S. pollutes more than nearly every other country in the world, with the sole exception of China. Greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are driven primarily by the transportation sector, followed by electric power generation and industrial activities. Combined, these three sectors account for over 75% of carbon emissions in the United States, while the residential, commercial, and agriculture sectors are responsible for the remainder.

By virtue of the size of its carbon footprint, the United States bears a degree of culpability for the ongoing, global climate crisis – and, given the potentially catastrophic long-term effects of continued greenhouse gas emissions, a responsibility to reduce those emissions.

A meaningful reduction in U.S. carbon emissions will likely come primarily from government policy, and include initiatives such as a transition away from coal and natural gas and towards clean, renewable energy sources. At the individual level, Americans can reduce their carbon footprint by improving their home’s insulation, using energy-efficient appliances, and decreasing their reliance on personal, internal combustion engine vehicles.

While these and other possible solutions are no secret, in many parts of the country, their implementation has been met with widespread reluctance. Still, there are many states across the country where a combination of factors – ranging from industrial composition, to government and individual action – has already resulted in below-average carbon emissions.

Using data from the EIA, Climate Crisis 24/7 identified the U.S. states generating the least carbon pollution. To compare across varying population sizes, states are ranked by their per capita carbon emissions 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.

Nationwide, the United States had a per capita carbon footprint of 14.8 metric tons in 2022. In each of the 25 states on this list, per capita carbon emissions are below the national average. In several states on this list, per capita emissions by metric ton are in the single digits. It is important to note that while the highest-ranking states on this list are leading the U.S. in carbon reduction, their per capita emissions still exceed that of most other countries in the world.

These are the states producing the least carbon dioxide pollution.

25. Minnesota

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 14.7 metric tons per person (84.4 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 308 million Btu (19th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (34.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (23.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (19.8% of annual carbon emissions)

24. Illinois

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 14.6 metric tons per person (183.7 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 292 million Btu (24th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (32.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (26.5% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (19.1% of annual carbon emissions)

23. Tennessee

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 12.8 metric tons per person (91.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 298 million Btu (22nd highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (49.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (26.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (15.1% of annual carbon emissions)

22. Nevada

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 12.6 metric tons per person (40.4 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 222 million Btu (15th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (46.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (32.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (7.6% of annual carbon emissions)

21. Hawaii

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 12.6 metric tons per person (18.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 188 million Btu (5th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (60.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (31.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (5.2% of annual carbon emissions)

20. South Carolina

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 12.5 metric tons per person (67.3 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 307 million Btu (20th highest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (46.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (36.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (10.1% of annual carbon emissions)

19. Delaware

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 12.3 metric tons per person (12.7 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 270 million Btu (23rd lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (40.9% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (28.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (15.8% of annual carbon emissions)

18. Georgia

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 11.3 metric tons per person (124.8 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 260 million Btu (20th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (47.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (32.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (10.0% of annual carbon emissions)

17. Virginia

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 11.0 metric tons per person (96.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 280 million Btu (24th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (51.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (23.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (11.6% of annual carbon emissions)

16. Arizona

*Photo by Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash*

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 11.0 metric tons per person (81.4 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 207 million Btu (12th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (47.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (40.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (5.7% of annual carbon emissions)

15. North Carolina

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 10.8 metric tons per person (116.6 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 240 million Btu (16th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (46.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (34.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (8.7% of annual carbon emissions)

14. Maine

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 10.7 metric tons per person (14.9 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 241 million Btu (17th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (48.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Residential (17.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Commercial (11.8% of annual carbon emissions)

13. Idaho

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 10.5 metric tons per person (20.7 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 268 million Btu (21st lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (55.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (16.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Residential (11.5% of annual carbon emissions)

12. Connecticut

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 10.2 metric tons per person (37.0 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 196 million Btu (9th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (40.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (25.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Residential (19.2% of annual carbon emissions)

11. Florida

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 10.2 metric tons per person (231.0 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 194 million Btu (7th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (51.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (40.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (5.1% of annual carbon emissions)

10. New Jersey

*Photo by Matthis Volquardsen on Pexels*

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 10.0 metric tons per person (92.5 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 218 million Btu (14th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (47.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Residential (16.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (15.5% of annual carbon emissions)

9. New Hampshire

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 9.8 metric tons per person (13.8 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 213 million Btu (13th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (48.6% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Residential (18.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (17.3% of annual carbon emissions)

8. Washington

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 9.6 metric tons per person (74.7 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 202 million Btu (11th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (57.0% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (15.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (12.7% of annual carbon emissions)

7. Rhode Island

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 9.3 metric tons per person (10.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 171 million Btu (the lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (37.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (27.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Residential (20.7% of annual carbon emissions)

6. Oregon

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 8.9 metric tons per person (37.6 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 202 million Btu (11th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (52.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (19.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Industrial (12.4% of annual carbon emissions)

5. Vermont

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 8.5 metric tons per person (5.5 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 193 million Btu (6th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (51.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Residential (24.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Commercial (16.8% of annual carbon emissions)

4. New York

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 8.5 metric tons per person (166.1 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 176 million Btu (3rd lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (45.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Residential (20.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (16.4% of annual carbon emissions)

3. Massachusetts

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 8.5 metric tons per person (59.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 188 million Btu (5th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (47.3% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Residential (21.8% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Commercial (13.7% of annual carbon emissions)

2. California

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 8.4 metric tons per person (326.2 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 176 million Btu (3rd lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (56.4% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Industrial (19.1% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Electric power (10.8% of annual carbon emissions)

1. Maryland

Carbon dioxide emissions in 2022: 8.2 metric tons per person (50.6 million metric tons total)
Per capita energy consumption in 2022: 195 million Btu (8th lowest of 50 states)
Largest polluting sector: Transportation (51.2% of annual carbon emissions)
Second largest polluting sector: Electric power (20.7% of annual carbon emissions)
Third largest polluting sector: Residential (12.0% of annual carbon emissions)

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