America’s efforts to cut its climate change pollution stalled in 2024, with greenhouse gas emissions dropping just a fraction, 0.2%, compared with the year before, according to estimates published Thursday by the Rhodium Group, a research firm.

Despite growth in solar and wind power, emissions levels in 2024 stayed relatively flat because demand for electricity surged in the U.S., which led to a spike in the amount of natural gas burned by power plants.

The fact that emissions didn’t decline much means the U.S. is even further off-track from hitting President Joe Biden’s goal of slashing greenhouse gases 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. Scientists say all major economies would have to cut their emissions deeply this decade to keep global warming at relatively low levels. — The New York Times