Despite being the most criticized nation over climate change, the United States has emerged as the global leader in reducing CO2 emissions in 2019; plus more of today’s weather news and forecast.
US led the globe in 2019 in reducing CO2 emissions
The global leader for reducing CO2 emissions in 2019 was the United States, accomplishing this feat while experiencing solid economic growth, according to a newly released report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
“The United States saw the largest decline in energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019 on a country basis – a fall of 140 Mt, or 2.9%, to 4.8 Gt,” the IEA reported this week. “US emissions are now down almost 1 Gt from their peak in the year 2000, the largest absolute decline by any country over that period.”
“A 15% reduction in the use of coal for power generation underpinned the decline in overall US emissions in 2019,” the IEA report continued. “Coal-fired power plants faced even stronger competition from natural gas-fired generation, with benchmark gas prices an average of 45% lower than 2018 levels. As a result, gas increased its share in electricity generation to a record high of 37%.”
“Overall electricity demand declined because demand for air-conditioning and heating was lower as a result of milder summer and winter weather,” the report added.
US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) wrote on Twitter: “FACT you will NEVER see on the 6 o’clock news: U.S. emissions FELL 2.9%, or by 140 million tons, continuing the trend of the United States LEADING THE WORLD IN TOTAL EMISSIONS DECLINE since 2000.”
Asia responsible for 80 percent of increased CO2 emissions
The report noted that 80% of the global increases in CO2 emissions in 2019 came from Asia, with both China and India contributing significantly to the increase.
“In China, emissions rose but were tempered by slower economic growth and higher output from low-carbon sources of electricity,” the IEA report said.
“Continued growth in fossil-fuel demand in other sectors of the Indian economy, notably transport, offset the decline in the power sector. Emissions grew strongly in Southeast Asia, lifted by robust coal demand.”
Dangerous wind chills in Upper Midwest today
Subzero wind chills have prompted warnings by the National Weather Service today for portions of the upper Midwest where temperatures could have a wind chill factor as low as -41 degrees in some areas.
The warning is in effect for the Eastern Dakotas, Minnesota and northern Iowa.
The weather conditions have led to hundreds of school closures across the area.
Winter weather advisories and flood warnings
The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories today for at least a dozen states in the Ohio Valley and Northeast, as well as portions of Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
Flood advisories, warnings, and watches
Over a dozen states in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, south and southeast today are under flood advisories, watches, and warnings.
Today’s US forecast
West: San Francisco 54/partly cloudy, Los Angeles 72/mostly sunny, Reno 59/sunny, Las Vegas 65/sunny, Salt Lake City 44/partly cloudy, Denver 32/partly cloudy.
Northwest & Northern Rockies: Seattle 45/rain, Portland 55/mostly sunny, Boise 49/sunny, Billings 34/partly cloudy, Bismarck 13/sunny, Rapid City 26/partly cloudy.
Southwest: Phoenix 68/sunny, Albuquerque 49/sunny, El Paso 59/partly cloudy, San Antonio 61/sunny.
Central & Upper Midwest: Lubbock 48/mostly sunny, Dallas 46/partly cloudy, Oklahoma City 38/partly cloudy, Kansas City 20/sunny, Minneapolis 4/partly cloudy, Madison 11/partly cloudy.
Ohio Valley: Chicago 25/snow, St. Louis 29/partly cloudy, Detroit 32/snow, Cincinnati 39/snow.
South: Houston 60/sunny, New Orleans 59/rain, Memphis 43/partly cloudy, Atlanta 63/rain, Charlotte 69/rain, Jacksonville 84/partly cloudy, Tampa 81/partly cloudy, Miami 81/partly cloudy.
East: Norfolk 71/rain, Washington, D.C. 56/rain, Buffalo 33/snow, New York 46/rain, Boston 41/rain, Bangor 29/snow.