Rampant Rise in US Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fuels Global Pollution Surge – New Report Reveals

A recent surge in greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. has contributed to a rise in global emissions in the first half of this year. Many experts worry this trend could continue, especially with Donald Trump supporting fossil fuel policies that may slow down the necessary emissions cuts.

According to a new forecast by the Rhodium Group, Trump’s return to the White House marks a major change in energy and climate policies. This shift could cut U.S. emissions reduction rates by nearly half compared to the progress made over the last 20 years. The U.S. is now projected to reduce its emissions by only 26% to 35% by 2035 compared to 2005 levels, a significant drop from last year’s forecast, which had proposed reductions of 38% to 56%.

Despite past commitments made in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, current projections suggest the U.S. won’t meet its share of emissions cuts. Experts stress that even the best-case scenario might only yield a 43% reduction by 2040—far below the goals set by President Biden.

Ben King of Rhodium pointed out that the U.S. was already behind on its targets before this policy shift. The new direction has intensified the emissions problem. Under Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” approach, vast federal lands have been opened for drilling, and various regulations meant to minimize pollution have been rolled back.

Furthermore, the administration has actively discouraged the renewable energy sector. New incentives for solar and wind projects have been halted, leading to notable losses in clean energy jobs—nearly 65,000 are reportedly lost or stalled since Trump took office. This shift has had real financial consequences, with household energy bills rising as a result of cuts to renewable energy options.

According to Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, these restrictive policies threaten investment in energy sources crucial for a growing economy. In the first half of 2025 alone, solar installations dropped by 25%.

Recent data show U.S. emissions rose by 1.4% compared to the same time last year, coinciding with similar increases in Brazil, illustrating the larger challenge of managing climate crises without U.S. leadership.

King emphasized, “The impacts of the Trump administration’s policies on emissions data might take a couple of years to fully manifest, but we’re already seeing delays in renewable projects. A flatlining of emissions at this point is far from ideal.”

For further reading on emissions data, check out Climate Trace.

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