"After two years of declines, United States greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2025-a change driven by increased electricity use, due in part to data centers and cryptocurrency mining, as well as cold winter temperatures that meant homes required more heating. Emissions increased 2.4% in 2025, according to preliminary data from the research firm Rhodium Group. That's higher than the country's GDP growth, which increased by a projected 1.9%."
"That the country's emissions grew more than its GDP is notable: Climate experts have long noted that it's both possible and necessary to reduce emissions while still growing the economy. And for the past few years, the U.S. has done just that. ( Multiple states have also individually reduced their emissions while growing their economies.) Now, though, 2025 has broken a three-year trend in which the economy's growth outpaced our emissions growth."
" Heating, data centers, and crypto mining The main drivers of this emissions increase came from the buildings and power sectors. Colder temperatures meant more homes had to rely on natural gas and coal for heating. The winter of 2025 specifically "led to increased direct combustion of these fuels in buildings, driving up emissions by 56 million metric tons, or 6.8%, compared to 2024," per Rhodium. Coal generation grew 13% compared to the year prior, making 2025 just the second year in the past decade in which coal generation increased. (Since its peak in 2007, coal generation has shrunk by 64%.)"
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased 2.4% in 2025, exceeding projected GDP growth of 1.9%. The primary contributors were higher electricity demand and increased combustion for building heating during a colder winter. Data centers and cryptocurrency mining contributed to greater electricity use. Buildings and the power sector together drove the emissions rise, with direct combustion of natural gas and coal in buildings increasing emissions by 56 million metric tons (6.8%) compared to 2024, according to Rhodium. Coal generation rose 13% year-over-year, marking the second increase in the past decade despite a 64% decline since 2007.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]