How much of a contributor did the United States have regarding carbon emissions since the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution, which is estimated to have begun around 1870? This is what a recent study published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives hopes to address as a team of researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research investigated the United States’ contributions to carbon emissions since the late 19th century. This study has the potential to help scientists, legislators, and the public better understand carbon emissions from the United States and the steps that can be taken to mitigate these contributions.
For the study, the researchers evaluated U.S. carbon emission data broken down into four time periods: before 1920, 1920 to 1960, 1960 to 2005, and after 2005. The goal of the study was the ascertain the primary contributors of U.S. carbon emissions while focusing on the electricity sector, the latter of which has greatly advanced since the start of the Second Industrial Revolution.
In the end, the researchers found the mid-20th century saw the electricity sector being the primary coal user of coal, but technological innovation from 1920 and 1960 helped curb carbon emissions. Despite these innovations, U.S. energy crises in the 1970s demonstrated the nation’s influence on the world energy sector. Finally, policies aimed at curbing carbon emissions, beginning with the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970, have helped curb carbon emissions while setting an example for global carbon emissions reduction.
Dr. Akshaya Jha, who is an associate professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University and a co-author on the study said, “By fostering innovation, maintaining regulatory flexibility, and holistically accounting for environmental externalities, policymakers can meet their climate goals more effectively while ensuring access to energy and fostering economic growth.”
How will the United States continue to contribute carbon emissions in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Journal of Economic Perspectives, EurekAlert!
