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Energy & Emissions Environment & Climate Spotlight: Air Quality Government
Energy & Emissions Eighty percent of US energy consumed is from fossil fuels, but the share of US energy consumption from nuclear and renewable sources has nearly doubled since 1980 to 20% in 2019. Forty-two percent of US renewable and nuclear energy consumption is from nuclear sources, followed by 25% from biomass like wood and biofuels. In 2017, the US ranked 5th among the world’s 10 largest economies for its proportion of energy consumption coming from renewable and nuclear energy. New Hampshire and Washington State lead the country in renewable and nuclear energy consumption as of 2017, with this energy making up 53% and 50% of consumption, respectively. The median state, Virginia, consumes 21%. The US emitted 5.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2017, making up 14% of the world’s emissions that year. Transportation is the largest source of US emissions, surpassing electricity generation in 2017. The US emitted 15.8 tons of carbon dioxide per person in 2017, ranking 2nd among the world’s top 10 gross emitters. The average American generated 4.5 lbs of solid trash (food waste, paper, etc.) daily in 2017, up from 3.6 lbs per day in 1980.
Environment & Climate In 1980, the average US county had good air quality 59% of days. In 2018, the average county had good air quality 81% of days. The annual rate of precipitation for the contiguous US was 5% higher on average at the beginning of the 21th century (2005-2019) than it was at the beginning of the 20th century (1895-1909) . California had a greater drop in average annual precipitation over the past century compared to any other state. 2019 was the second-warmest year globally in the 140-year record, with temperatures 1.71°F (0.95°C) warmer than the 20th century average. 2016 was the warmest year on record. Between 1895 and 2019, the average temperature in 50% of US counties rose more than 2.7°F (1.5°C), a key threshold of climate warming identified by NASA.
Spotlight: Air Quality
Government There are 718 animal species currently listed as threatened or endangered, including 167 types of fish, 99 birds, and 94 mammals. The federal government owned 27% of American land as of 2018, down 5% since 1980. The federal government collected $12 billion in revenue from energy and mineral extraction on federal lands and waters in FY 2019, a 15% decrease from 2010, adjusting for inflation. There were 327 million visits to land managed by the National Park Service (including national parks, historical sites, and national monuments) in 2019. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been the most visited National Park for every year since 1979. In 2019, it received 12.5 million visits, accounting for 14% of National Park System visits that year. The federal government spent $37.9 billion in 2019, or 0.8% of all federal expenditures, on the environment and natural resources (not including spending on renewable energy). State and local governments most recently spent $63.8 billion on the environment and natural resources, $33.3 billion of which went to local parks and recreation services (net of fees collected).

Environment & Climate

What is the state of our environment and climate?

In 1980, the average US county had good air quality 59% of days. In 2018, the average county had good air quality 81% of days. The annual rate of precipitation for the contiguous US was 5% higher on average at the beginning of the 21th century (2005-2019) than it was at the beginning of the 20th century (1895-1909) . California had a greater drop in average annual precipitation over the past century compared to any other state. 2019 was the second-warmest year globally in the 140-year record, with temperatures 1.71°F (0.95°C) warmer than the 20th century average. 2016 was the warmest year on record. Between 1895 and 2019, the average temperature in 50% of US counties rose more than 2.7°F (1.5°C), a key threshold of climate warming identified by NASA.
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Environment & Climate

In 1980, the average US county had good air quality 59% of days. In 2018, the average county had good air quality 81% of days.

Adjusting for population change, Hawaii had the largest decrease in air quality per square mile between 1980 and 2018, partially due to volcanic air pollution, while Missouri had the largest improvement.

Sources & Footnotes

“Good air quality” is defined by the EPA as having an air quality index (AQI) value between 0 and 50. The AQI is based on the concentration of five criteria pollutants including carbon monoxide and particulate matter.

Environment & Climate

The annual rate of precipitation for the contiguous US was 5% higher on average at the beginning of the 21th century (2005-2019) than it was at the beginning of the 20th century (1895-1909) .

Sources & Footnotes

Environment & Climate

California had a greater drop in average annual precipitation over the past century compared to any other state.

Sources & Footnotes

Environment & Climate

2019 was the second-warmest year globally in the 140-year record, with temperatures 1.71°F (0.95°C) warmer than the 20th century average. 2016 was the warmest year on record.

Global temperatures have been warmer than the 20th century average ever since 1977.

Sources & Footnotes

Environment & Climate

Between 1895 and 2019, the average temperature in 50% of US counties rose more than 2.7°F (1.5°C), a key threshold of climate warming identified by NASA.

In six states —North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Delaware, and New Jersey— the average temperature in all counties rose more than 2.7°F.

Sources & Footnotes

Continue exploring the State of the Earth

Energy & Emissions

How do energy and emissions in the United States compare to the rest of the world?

Air Quality

How has air quality changed across the United States since 1980?

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