RAND State Statistics recently expanded and updated its Greenhouse Gases database, containing Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for all U.S. states and territories from 1990 to the present. Data is available by gas and source or by IPCC sector; emissions are reported in million metric tons, and per capita emissions are reported in metric tons. Here are some of the highlights.

From 2014 to 2019, total Greenhouse gas emissions in the United States dropped 3.9%, falling from 6,785.2 million metric tons in 2014 to 6,523.9 million metric tons (See Table 1). Idaho experienced the largest increase in total GHG emissions over this five-year period, rising 11.4%, followed by Washington (11.0%), Oregon (10.8%), North Dakota (9.7%), and Vermont (4.9%). Kentucky experienced the most significant decrease (17.0%), followed by Indiana (-14.0%), West Virginia (-13.3%), Illinois (-13.2%), and Maine (-12.9%) (See Figure 1).

Table 1 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions, United States, 2014 - 2019

Figure 1 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions, United States, 2014 - 2019

Over this same time period, the United States experienced a 6.8% decrease in total GHG emissions per capita, dropping from 21.32 metric tons in 2014 to 19.88 metric tons in 2019 (See Table 2). North Dakota experienced the most significant increase in GHG emissions per capita over this five-year period (6.1%), followed by Vermont (5.0%), Louisiana (4.7%), Oregon (4.1%), and Connecticut (4.0%). Kentucky experienced the largest decrease in total emissions per capita, dropping 18%, followed by Indiana (-15.7%), Utah (-14.2%), District of Columbia (-14.2%), and Alabama (-13.9%) (See Figure 2).

Table 2 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions - Per Capita, United States, 2014 - 2019

Figure 2 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions - Per Capita, United States, 2014 - 2019

Over a longer period of time, from 1990 to 2019, total GHG emissions in the United States increased 1.9%, rising from 6,402.90 million metric tons in 1990 to 6,523.90 million metric tons (See Figure 3). Idaho experienced a 57.6% increase in GHG emissions, the most significant growth over this 29-year period, followed by North Dakota (57.2%), Nebraska (39.5%), Arizona (36.8%), and Colorado (32.4%). The District of Columbia experienced the most notable decrease of total emission, rising ??33.3%, followed by Massachusetts (-23.6%), Delaware (-23.1%), Ohio (-22.2%), and Maine (-22.1%) (See Figure 4).

Figure 3 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions, United States, 1990 - 2019

Figure 4 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions, United States, 1990 - 2019

Greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the United States dropped 22.6% over this 29-year period, falling from 25.67 metric tons in 1990 to 19.88 metric tons in 2019 (See Figure 5). North Dakota experienced the most significant increase of GHG emission per capita, rising 31.5%, followed by Nebraska (13.9%), Mississippi (6.5%), Rhode Island (5.2%), and Iowa (3.8%). Nevada experienced the most drastic decrease, falling 48.4%, followed by Delaware (-47.2%), District of Columbia (-43.0%), Georgia (-39.4%), and Utah (-38.0%) (See Figure 6).

Figure 5 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions - Per Capita, United States, 1990 - 2019

Figure 6 — Greenhouse Gases, Total Emissions - Per Capita, United States, 1990 - 2019