New data from research group Rhodium has revealed US emissions to fall below their 1990 level for the first time.

As the world entered and pandemic and travel stopped, emissions in the US plummeted by 10%, which is the largest drop the country has seen since the second world war.

The news is welcomed and means that a goal set by Obama’s administration was met. Under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, the US said that by 2020 it would aim to reduce emissions by 17% from 2005 levels. Amid the pandemic, emissions were 21.5% lower than in 2005.

Transport emissions plunged 15%, whilst energy emissions also fell sharply. At the peak of the pandemic, jet fuel was down 68% and petrol use plunged 40%.

However, the fall in emissions came at a significant economic cost and unless the government prioritises climate change, emissions are likely to rocket once the pandemic ends.

Things look more promising as Joe Biden is set to take up office. He has said that he will put climate change on the agenda. 

“However, 2020 should not in any way be considered a down payment toward the US meeting its 2025 Paris Agreement target of 26-28% below 2005 levels,” said the report.

“With coronavirus vaccines now in distribution, we expect economic activity to pick up again in 2021, but without meaningful structural changes in the carbon intensity of the US economy, emissions will likely rise again as well.”