The states with The Most Carbon Pollution In The Nation

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.

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)