Texas and California have consistently been the two biggest transportation-related carbon polluters in the U.S. In 2021, they emitted 215 and 179 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂), respectively. Combined, these two states – the most populous in the U.S. – account for almost a quarter of total U.S. transportation CO₂ emissions.
Changes in U.S. state transportation emissions
As of 2021, 32 U.S. states had observed overall transportation-related emission reductions when compared to 2005 levels. The state with the largest emissions reductions during this period was New Jersey, at almost 40 percent. In contrast, Texas’ transportation emissions grew by more than 10 percent over this timespan.
Transportation’s share of emissions
In 2021, transportation accounted for at least 50 percent of total energy-related CO₂ emissions in 10 U.S. states. In California, this figure stood at 55. Meanwhile, transportation accounted for 32 percent of energy-related CO₂ emissions in Texas, despite it being the biggest transportation-related polluter in the U.S.
Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2021, by select state
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Characteristic
Texas
California
Florida
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Georgia
New Jersey
Louisiana
2021
215.2
179.1
114.6
67.3
60.1
56
58.8
58.6
42.7
44.8
2020
193.3
160.5
96.4
60.2
54.7
52.6
55.1
56.1
39.1
39.1
2019
227.9
209
119.1
79.9
67.8
61.7
60.7
63.8
48.6
40.4
2018
221
209.1
121.1
82
69.9
60.8
61.2
64.2
52.1
38
2017
213.7
208
115.2
81.5
69.8
60.9
60.7
66.1
50.1
41.2
2016
211.5
202.3
112.6
80.8
69.4
60.3
60.3
62.4
52.6
38.1
2015
205.4
194.8
110.2
77.6
69.5
61.3
60.7
65.1
50.3
36.7
2014
201.5
189.9
106.3
79.2
66.7
62.8
60.5
61.9
50.3
36
2013
199.8
189
104.9
75.1
65
63
59.1
64.1
51.5
37.9
2012
184.6
189.6
103.4
74.4
63.9
63.2
58.3
62.6
51.3
39
2011
184.8
193.4
105.4
76.1
66.3
64.1
60.4
66.9
53.9
43.1
2010
184.4
201
107
81.3
66.8
64.4
61.3
68.3
53.6
42.1
2009
187.2
213.8
97.4
71
67
65.1
63.2
64.2
61.2
46.6
2008
194.9
218.9
103.6
72.9
68.4
66
67.6
60
72.4
47.3
2007
203.3
235.7
114.5
73.8
72.8
71.3
72
66.3
71.9
50.4
2006
202
233.5
116.2
74.5
73
72.1
71.7
68.1
68.6
54.9
2005
194.4
228.8
113.5
73.4
76.6
72.5
70.9
69
69.2
50.9
2004
193.6
223.8
111.1
75.3
69.2
71.4
71.6
66.4
64.7
53.7
2003
192.3
215.5
100.9
74.1
66
70.1
70.3
64.1
62.8
54.9
2002
197.4
223.4
101.3
68.6
62.5
70.6
69.1
61.5
63.8
54.9
2001
190.8
211.5
99
67
64.6
70.3
68.5
61.4
63
53.5
2000
183.6
216.4
100.9
67.4
67.2
70.7
69
61.8
65.1
61.2
1999
178.4
204.3
94.6
66.5
65
68.1
66.6
61.3
60.6
55.2
1998
179.9
200
91.9
66.2
58.8
67.5
64.8
59.3
60.7
55.3
1997
170.9
199.2
90.4
65.6
57.7
65.4
64
57.3
59.8
56.5
1996
166.5
204.4
87.3
65.7
57.3
62.6
62.2
59.6
59.1
59.2
1995
153.1
200.2
86.3
62.5
55.3
62.9
59.1
56.2
61
53.9
1994
155.2
195.9
84.1
60.6
53.7
62.1
58
53.6
60
53.8
1993
151.3
187.3
78.4
61.5
55.5
61.7
57.2
52.8
54.8
51.2
1992
152.3
191.1
79.5
60.6
52.5
60.2
54.3
47.7
57.9
51.3
1991
148.9
191.5
76.9
62.2
51.8
59.1
55.1
47.3
57.7
51.3
1990
152.1
202.2
81.3
63.9
54.1
59.3
55.8
48.5
56.9
48.8
1989
151.8
201
81.3
60
54.8
57.7
57.2
48
59
49.1
1988
151.2
194.7
80.6
59.8
53.9
61.2
57
49.5
57.4
49
1987
143.5
184
76.1
62.7
50.3
59
56.5
47.2
60.1
45.8
1986
146.7
174.8
71.7
59.3
49.9
55.7
54.9
44.3
59.1
46.6
1985
143.2
168.9
67.9
58.2
50.7
53.6
53.2
42.1
57
41.3
1984
138.3
169.5
65.6
49.4
49.3
53.1
52.6
41.6
57
42.2
1983
132.7
160.8
66.8
54.2
55.4
52.1
51.8
40
54.7
42.4
1982
133.4
159.2
66.8
59.9
53.9
51.3
52.1
38.6
51.2
40.7
1981
129.5
168
68.1
66.9
55.3
54.6
54.2
38.6
44
46.4
1980
127.8
169.5
68
71.5
58
57.7
55.9
39.1
40.6
45.4
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EIA. (July 12, 2023). Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2021, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/
EIA. "Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2021, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. July 12, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/
EIA. (2023). Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2021, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/
EIA. "Transportation-related Carbon Dioxide Emissions in The United States from 1980 to 2021, by Select State (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Jul 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/
EIA, Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2021, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2021, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph], EIA, July 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/