In a noticeable shift from prior trends of pollution reduction, the United States released 2.4% more greenhouse gases in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to a new study by the Rhodium Group. This increase is attributed to several factors including a cooler winter leading to higher heating demand, a surge in electricity consumption from data centers and cryptocurrency mining, and rising natural gas prices.
Study co-author Ben King revealed that U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and methane dropped 20% from 2005 to 2024, but the rise in 2025 introduces a troubling development. King stated that approximately 5.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent were emitted in 2025, a rise of 139 million tons from 2024.
The increase in emissions reflects a troubling bond between pollution and economic activity, reversing previous years where cleaner energy initiatives led to decreased emissions irrespective of economic growth. While 2025's record may be partially attributed to abnormal weather patterns and energy market fluctuations, the implications of this trend might pose significant challenges to climate goals in the future.
"It’s not like this is a huge rebound," King noted of coal's increasing share in energy generation. "But we did see this increase and that was a large part of why emissions went up in the power sector."
Experts warn that this uptick could foreshadow further increases in emissions if U.S. policy continues to favor fossil fuels over cleaner energy sources. The call to address this trend is becoming increasingly urgent as climate change remains a pressing global issue.
