Texas and California have consistently been the two biggest transportation-related carbon polluters in the U.S. In 2022, they emitted 219 and 183 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 U.S. transportation CO₂ emissions.
Changes in U.S. state transportation emissions
As of 2022, 30 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 37 percent. In contrast, Texas’ transportation emissions grew by more than 13 percent over this timespan.
Transportation’s share of emissions
In 2022, transportation accounted for at least 50 percent of total energy-related CO₂ emissions in nine U.S. states. In California, this figure stood at 56. Meanwhile, transportation accounted for 33 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 2022, by select state
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Characteristic
Texas
California
Florida
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Georgia
New Jersey
Louisiana
2022
219.8
183.9
118.3
74.9
59.8
56.4
58.1
59.4
43.6
47.3
2021
213
179.8
113.8
69.1
59.7
56.3
58.3
58.2
42.3
44.3
2020
190.7
159.1
95.6
59.7
53.9
52
54.4
55.5
38.7
38.6
2019
225.2
207.7
118.4
79.4
67.2
61.1
60
63.3
48.3
40
2018
218.2
207.6
120.3
81.4
69.2
60.2
60.5
63.6
51.7
37.6
2017
210.8
206.4
114.4
80.9
69
60.2
59.9
65.4
49.7
40.7
2016
208.5
200.6
111.7
80.1
68.5
59.6
59.5
61.7
52.1
37.5
2015
203.1
193.5
109.5
77.1
68.8
60.7
60
64.6
49.9
36.2
2014
199.3
188.7
105.7
78.8
66.1
62.3
59.9
61.4
50
35.7
2013
197.8
187.8
104.2
74.7
64.4
62.4
58.5
63.6
51.1
37.5
2012
183.6
188.9
103
74.1
63.6
62.9
58
62.3
51.2
38.8
2011
183.8
192.8
105.1
75.9
66
63.8
60
66.7
53.7
42.9
2010
184
200.8
106.9
81.2
66.7
64.2
61.1
68.1
53.5
42
2009
186.6
213.4
97.3
70.9
66.9
64.9
63
64
61.1
46.5
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
87.2
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
196
84.1
60.6
53.7
62.1
58
53.6
60
53.8
1993
151.6
187.7
78.6
61.7
55.6
61.8
57.4
52.9
54.9
51.2
1992
152.8
191.7
79.8
60.8
53.7
60.4
55.3
47.8
58
51.5
1991
149.2
192.1
77.1
62.3
52.8
59.2
55.8
47.4
57.7
51.3
1990
152.2
202.5
81.3
63.9
54.9
59.3
56.4
48.6
56.9
48.8
1989
151.9
201.2
81.4
60
55.7
57.7
57.9
48
59
49.1
1988
151.4
195
80.7
59.8
54.7
61.2
57.6
49.5
57.4
49
1987
143.7
184.2
76.2
62.7
51.1
59
57
47.2
60.1
46
1986
146.9
174.9
71.9
59.3
50.6
55.7
55.4
44.3
59.1
46.7
1985
143.4
169
68.2
58.2
51.2
53.6
53.6
42.1
57
41.4
1984
138.4
169.7
65.9
49.4
49.6
53.1
52.9
41.6
57
42.2
1983
132.8
161.1
67
54.2
55.6
52.1
52.1
40
54.7
42.4
1982
133.4
159.5
66.9
59.9
54
51.3
52.1
38.6
51.2
40.7
1981
129.5
168.1
68.2
66.9
55.4
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. (October 29, 2024). Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2022, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 25, 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 2022, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)." Chart. October 29, 2024. Statista. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/
EIA. (2024). Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2022, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 25, 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 2022, by Select State (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide)." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Oct 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 2022, 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 November 25, 2024)
Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2022, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide) [Graph], EIA, October 29, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1010152/transportation-sector-co2-emissions-us-by-state/