EIA Reports CO2 Emissions Slip in August 2025
A new update from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a slight decline in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions tied to U.S. energy consumption. The agency released the data in its Monthly Energy Review (MER), offering preliminary estimates for August 2025.
CO2 Emissions Dip as Energy Use Shifts
According to the report, CO2 emissions from U.S. energy consumption — excluding biomass — totaled 414 million metric tons, marking a 1% decrease from August 2024.
Breakdown of Emissions by Energy Source
The EIA highlighted how individual fuels contributed to the national total:
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Petroleum: 47%
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Natural Gas: 35%
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Coal: 19%
These shares reflect ongoing nationwide trends in fuel use, driven by both economic activity and seasonal energy demand.
Transportation Sector Still Dominates Emissions
Petroleum Remains the Primary Driver
The transportation sector accounted for 40% of all U.S. CO2 emissions from energy consumption in August.
Of that amount, petroleum made up 96%, underscoring how heavily transportation still depends on gasoline and diesel despite growth in EV adoption.
Industrial Sector Sees Strong Reliance on Natural Gas
Manufacturing and Processing Add 28% of Total Emissions
The industrial sector generated 28% of nationwide CO2 emissions from energy consumption.
Within this sector, natural gas accounted for 40% of the emissions total, reflecting its widespread use in heat, feedstocks, and processing.
Residential and Commercial Sectors Each Hold 16%
Electricity Use Drives Most Emissions in These Sectors
Both the residential sector and commercial sector contributed 16% each to total U.S. CO2 emissions from energy consumption.
The EIA noted that electricity sales in these sectors accounted for 85% of their combined emissions, showing that lighting, heating, cooling, and building operations continue to dominate their carbon footprint.