America’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions faced a significant setback in 2024, with a mere 0.2 percent reduction compared to the previous year, according to the latest estimates from the Rhodium Group, a prominent research firm. Despite notable advancements in solar and wind energy, the surge in nationwide electricity demand led to increased natural gas consumption, stalling any meaningful progress towards climate objectives.

Experts warn that the stagnation in emission reductions places the U.S. further away from achieving President Biden’s ambitious goal of slashing greenhouse gases by 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. To meet this target, emissions must decrease nearly ten times faster than in the last decade, a daunting challenge that seems increasingly out of reach. Ben King, an associate director at the Rhodium Group, remarked, “It is notable that we’ve now seen two years in a row where the U.S. economy grew but emissions went down. But it’s far from enough to achieve our climate targets.”

Since 2005, the U.S. has managed a 20 percent decline in emissions, yet experts argue that further reductions are crucial in the current decade to maintain manageable global warming levels. As the political landscape shifts, especially with talks of dismantling the Biden administration’s climate policies potentially under a new leadership, the future of U.S. emissions reductions remains uncertain. The findings emphasize the urgent necessity for deep reductions across all major economies to curb climate change effectively.

For more details, read the full article on The New York Times.