Climate group hails US for cutting CO2

A grassroots campaign group is praising the United States for cutting its emissions over the last five years. The Sierra Club said work to move the country beyond coal is […]

A grassroots campaign group is praising the United States for cutting its emissions over the last five years. The Sierra Club said work to move the country beyond coal is “having a significant effect”.

It points to International Energy Agency statistics which show since 2006 the US has seen the largest reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of any country or region.

The group which has campaigned against coal factories in the States says coal was responsible for 33% of US electricity last month, down from 50% 10 years ago.

Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club said: “Americans should be heartened by the report that US carbon emissions have dropped by nearly 8% over the past six years. This significant milestone is a testament to the hard work of thousands of volunteers around the country, who are working city by city to retire dirty, outdated coal-burning power plants.”

Others say the emissions drop is more likely to be a result of the recession which has hit the American manufacturing industry hard.

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