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Home / Reports / State of the Union / Environment

Environment

In 2023, the average global temperature reached the highest recorded average temperature since data collection began in 1850.

Last year’s average global temperature was 1.18 °C (2.12 °F) warmer than the 20th-century average.

Environment

In 2023, the US experienced 28 "billion-dollar" disasters, resulting in a total cost of $92.9 billion.

Since 1980, there have been 376 disasters costing at least $1 billion each (after adjusting for inflation). These disasters resulted in the deaths of 16,350 people and cost $2.66 trillion.

Environment

Wildfires burned 2.7 million acres in 2023.

This was lower than any year since 1998.

Environment

Thirty-five major US cities had a combined total of 597 unhealthy air quality days in 2022.

This was 53% lower than the average from 2000 through 2019, and 65% lower than the average from 2000 through 2009. Unhealthy air quality days vary yearly, influenced by pollution emissions and also dust storms, wildfires, and other natural events.

Environment

The average American generated 4.9 pounds of trash daily in 2018.

Forty-five percent of trash was paper, paperboard, or food waste. Thirty-two percent of trash was recycled or composted. The Environmental Protection Agency has not produced more recent estimates.

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption* have generally been decreasing since mid-2008.

Average monthly emissions between August 2022 and September 2023 were 18.0% lower than the same period in 2007 and 2008.
(*As measured by a 12-month rolling average)

Environment

The federal government spent $35.1 billion on the environment and natural resources in FY 2023.

This accounted for about 0.6% of the 2023 federal budget, and included conservation and land management, pollution control, and water maintenance.

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