What environmental challenges does the US face?​ What are the country's major energy sources?

In 2020, the average global temperature was 0.98 °C (1.76 °F) above the 20th century average. It was also 0.02 °C (0.04 °F) below 2016, the warmest year on record.

The 2010s averaged twelve such disasters per year and the 2000s averaged six such disasters per year. ​

Wildfires burned an average of 7 million acres per year in the 2010s, more than twice the annual average in the 1990s. Final data on 2020 wildfires will be released in March 2021.

Coal production fell by 24%, whereas solar and wind energy grew 22% and 14%, respectively. Overall, fossil fuel production was up 32% in 2020 compared to 1980, largely due to a 74% increase in natural gas production. Nuclear energy production increased 201% since 1980 and renewable production increased 116%. Combined, renewable and nuclear energy comprised 21% of energy production in 2020. ​

Energy consumption related to transportation fell 15%, whereas consumption related to the commercial sector fell 7%.

Coal provides a decreasing share of US energy. Natural gas, which produces half as much carbon dioxide per unit of energy as coal, is a growing fossil fuel energy source.

Imported energy fell 42% from the high in 2006, while exports increased 396% over the same period.

Carbon dioxide is the largest source of US greenhouse gas, comprising 80% of 2019 emissions, followed by methane at 10%. In 2018, the US made up 15% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and emitted more metric tons of carbon dioxide (5.3 billion metric tons) than any country other than China (10.8 billion metric tons).

A 13% drop in motor gasoline emissions and a 38% drop in jet fuel emissions was responsible for nearly half of CO2 reduction. For more on the environment, see the State of the Earth.​