**U.S. Emission Reduction Efforts Stalled as Electricity Demand Rises in 2024**

**Experts warn that the U.S. is falling behind in meeting climate goals as emissions decline modestly.**

In 2024, the United States encountered a significant challenge in its fight against climate change, with greenhouse gas emissions experiencing only a slight decline of 0.2% compared to the previous year, as reported by the Rhodium Group. This stagnation comes after two decades of steady electricity consumption, with demand rising approximately 3% nationwide. The surge in demand, paired with the continued expansion of wind and solar energy, was insufficient to offset the increased reliance on natural gas by power plants.

The minimal decrease in emissions has raised concerns about the U.S. meeting President Biden's ambitious goal of cutting emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. Experts underscore the necessity for substantial cuts in greenhouse gases among all major economies to restrict global warming to manageable levels. Since 2005, emissions have decreased by about 20%, a commendable achievement during economic growth, but experts contend that the U.S. must accelerate reductions nearly tenfold to meet future climate targets.

Ben King, an associate director at the Rhodium Group, noted the mixed signals in the data. While it is encouraging that emissions have declined in an expanding economy for two consecutive years, the current pace is grossly inadequate for achieving set climate goals. Furthermore, the anticipated policies of President-elect Donald J. Trump, which promise to reverse existing climate measures and favor fossil fuel production, add another layer of uncertainty to the nation's climate strategy going forward.

As the U.S. continues to grapple with balancing energy demands and emission reductions, the outlook for significant progress on climate goals remains increasingly daunting.