United States

Low Risk

North America · High income · Pop. 340,110,988

ND-GAIN Vulnerability: 0.312 (2022)

CO2 per capita

13.71t CO2e

Source: World Bank WDI (2023)

GDP

$27.56T($81.0k/capita)

Source: World Bank (2023)

Renewable electricity

22.7%

↑ +5.2pp (5yr)

Source: Ember (2023)

Vulnerability

0.312ND-GAIN index

Source: ND-GAIN (2022)

United States

CO₂ per capita, 2023

CO₂/capita13.7t

Renewable22.7%

Decoupling+10.60

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Emissions Trajectory

Emissions are shifting. But is it enough?

Pre-Paris (2000-2014)

United States's emissions grew at -1.74%/yr. The long-term CAGR (2000-2023) was -1.84%/yr.

Post-Paris, the rate shifted to -1.87%/yr — a -0.06pp shift. Per capita emissions reached 13.7t in 2023.

United States — CO₂ per capita (2000-2023)

Source: World Bank WDI + OWID Consumption

Production-basedConsumption-based

Post-Paris Shift

This ranks 6th largest deceleration among tracked countries. Overall change since 2000: -34.7%.

Pre-Paris vs Post-Paris CAGR

Key Comparison

Loading comparison data…

Source: World Bank WDI

World Bank vs Climate TRACE

CO₂ per capita comparison

World Bank (WDI)Climate TRACE

Source: World Bank WDI vs Climate TRACE v7

Fossil Fuel Mix

Fossil fuels still make up 59.1% of the electricity mix. In 2023, Oil was the dominant source at 2199.1 Mt CO₂.

Fossil CO₂ by Fuel Type

Source: Our World in Data

CoalOilGasCementFlaring

Energy Transition

The energy transition is underway.

Renewables Progress

22.7% of electricity comes from renewables. That is +5.2pp over 5 years. Fossil fuels still make up 59.1%.

Carbon intensity: 410 gCO₂/kWh. Renewable transition ranks 3rd.

Electricity Generation Mix (2023)

Source: Ember Global Electricity Review (2023)

22.7%

Renewable Share

+5.2pp over 5yr

59.1%

Fossil Fuel Share

18.2%

Nuclear & Other

410

gCO₂/kWh

High-carbon

Economic Decoupling

Is GDP growth decoupled from emissions growth?

Decoupling Score

Score: +10.60. United States shows strong decoupling. GDP grew faster than emissions by +6.35pp/yr since 2015 (1st among tracked countries).

GDP vs CO₂ Growth

Indexed to 2000=100

Decoupling

GDP per capitaCO₂ per capitaCarbon Intensity of GDP

Source: World Bank WDI + OWID CO₂/GDP

430.0 Gt

Cumulative CO₂

Total since 1850

23.75%

Share of global

Cumulative share since 1850

0.294°C

Warming caused

by this country

Gas Breakdown

CO₂ dominates the warming contribution, followed by methane. N₂O contribution is relatively small. Total warming contribution: 0.294°C.

Temperature Contribution by Gas

Source: Our World in Data

CO₂0.242°C (83%)

CH₄0.038°C (13%)

N₂O0.011°C (4%)

6.08 Gt

Total GHG

All greenhouse gases

17.7

tCO₂e/capita

Total GHG per person

6th

Global rank

Largest deceleration

Methane & Nitrous Oxide

Source: Our World in Data

Methane (left axis)Nitrous Oxide (right axis)

Climate Vulnerability & Resilience

How prepared is United States?

Readiness & Vulnerability

United States ranks 8th in climate readiness (score: 0.647). Vulnerability stands at 0.312 — indicating relatively stronger resilience.

medium risk. 미국은 역사적 최대 온실가스 누적 배출국으로, 1인당 CO2 배출량 13.7 mt는 6개 파일럿 국가 중 최고 수준입니다. 그러나 GDP 대비 탄소 집약도(0.249 → 0.169)가 크게 개선되고 있으며, 인플레이션 감축법(IRA, 2022) 시행 이후 재생에너지 투자와 전환이 가속화되고 있습니다. 전력 부문 탄소 집약도는 462.6에서 392.9 gCO2/kWh로 감소하였고, 재생에너지 비중도 2018년 17.4%에서 2023년 22.7%로 증가했습니다. ND-GAIN 취약성 지수 0.31은 낮지만, 서부 산불, 허리케인, 해안 홍수 등 다양한 급성 기후 리스크에 노출되어 있습니다. 준비도 지수가 0.666에서 0.647로 소폭 하락한 것은 정치적 기후정책 불연속성을 반영합니다. 에너지 소비 효율 개선(6,738 → 6,364 kg oil eq/인)과 탈동조화 지수의 꾸준한 상승은 긍정적 신호입니다. 글로벌 기후 리더십 복원과 산업 탈탄소화 가속이 핵심 과제입니다. Fossil fuel dependency (59.1%) remains a key driver.

Vulnerability vs Readiness

Source: ND-GAIN Country Index 2023

Key Vulnerabilities

▸대규모 화석연료 배출 (1인당 13.7 mt CO2, 6개국 중 최고)
▸서부 산불, 허리케인, 홍수 등 다양한 급성 기후 리스크 노출
▸전력 화석연료 비중 여전히 높음 (59.1%, 천연가스 및 석탄)
▸ND-GAIN 준비도 하락 추세 (0.666 → 0.647, 정치적 불안정 반영)

Strengths

▸GDP 대비 탄소 집약도 큰 폭 개선 (0.249 → 0.169 kg CO2/USD, 32% 감소)
▸재생에너지 전력 빠른 성장 (17.4% → 22.7%, IRA 정책 효과)
▸높은 기후 적응 역량 (ND-GAIN 준비도 0.65, 기술·재정 역량 우수)

Key Takeaways

United States at a glance

Emissions

CO₂/capita: 13.7t. Post-Paris trend: -1.87%/yr.

Diagnosis

Renewable: 22.7%

Fossil: 59.1%

Decoupling: +10.60.

Outlook

Vulnerability: 0.312. Readiness: 0.647. medium risk.

Data Sources

All data for United States sourced from World Bank WDI, Ember, ND-GAIN, Our World in Data, and Climate TRACE (2000-2023).

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WDIWorld Bank World Development Indicators -- CO₂/capita (EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5), GDP/capita, forest area, energy use, PM2.5

EmberEmber Global Electricity Review -- Renewable %, fossil %, carbon intensity (gCO₂/kWh)

ND-GAINNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative -- Vulnerability index, readiness index

OWIDOur World in Data -- Consumption CO₂, fuel breakdown, cumulative CO₂, temperature contribution, methane, N₂O, total GHG

CTRACEClimate TRACE v7 -- Satellite-based sector emissions (power, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, etc.)

View all countries

Data Sources

Derived Indicators — Methodology

Carbon Intensity of GDP (DERIVED.CO2_PER_GDP)

CO₂_per_capita ÷ GDP_per_capita × 1,000

Unit: tCO₂ per $1,000 GDP. Lower = cleaner economy. 2023 range: DEU 0.13 → KOR 0.32.

Decoupling Index (DERIVED.DECOUPLING)

GDP_growth_rate(%) − CO₂_growth_rate(%)

Unit: percentage points. Positive = economy growing faster than emissions.

Energy Transition Momentum (DERIVED.ENERGY_TRANSITION)

RENEWABLE_PCT(t) − RENEWABLE_PCT(t−5)

Unit: pp over 5 years. 2023: DEU +19.2pp, BRA +6.6pp, USA +5.2pp, KOR +4.9pp.

Emissions (5)

Indicator	Source	Years
Carbon intensity of GDP	Derived: EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 / NY.GDP.PCAP.CD * 1000	2000–2023
Emissions intensity	derived	2000–2023
CO2 per capita	World Bank WDI	2000–2023
Decoupling index	Derived: GDP growth% - CO2 growth%	2001–2023
Total GHG (absolute)	Climate TRACE	2015–2023

Energy (5)

Indicator	Source	Years
Fossil electricity %	Ember/OWID	2000–2023
Carbon intensity	Ember/OWID	2000–2022
Renewable electricity %	Ember/OWID	2000–2023
Energy use per capita	World Bank WDI	2000–2023
Energy transition momentum	Derived: EMBER.RENEWABLE.PCT(t) - EMBER.RENEWABLE.PCT(t-5)	2005–2022

Economy (1)

Indicator	Source	Years
GDP per capita	World Bank WDI	2000–2023

Climate Risk (4)

Indicator	Source	Years
ND-GAIN Vulnerability	ND-GAIN	2000–2022
Forest area	World Bank WDI	2000–2022
PM2.5 air pollution	World Bank WDI	2000–2020
ND-GAIN Readiness	ND-GAIN	2000–2023

Derived (29)

Indicator	Source	Years
OWID.OIL_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.NITROUS_OXIDE	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.CEMENT_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.ENERGY_PER_CAPITA	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.NITROUS_OXIDE_PER_CAPITA	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.ENERGY_PER_GDP	OWID CO2	2000–2022
SP.POP.TOTL	World Bank WDI	2000–2023
OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.GHG_PER_CAPITA	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.GAS_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_N2O	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.CO2_PER_CAPITA	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.METHANE_PER_CAPITA	OWID CO2	2000–2022
OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2_PER_CAPITA	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.FLARING_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.TOTAL_GHG	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.CO2_PER_GDP	OWID CO2	2000–2022
OWID.METHANE	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2022
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CH4	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.CO2_INCLUDING_LUC	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.CUMULATIVE_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_GHG	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.TOTAL_GHG_EXCLUDING_LUCF	OWID CO2	2000–2022
OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CUMULATIVE_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
OWID.COAL_CO2	OWID CO2	2000–2023
DERIVED.CLIMATE_CLASS	VisualClimate derived	2023–2023

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