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�鶹�� has made major progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the past two decades, even as its economy more than doubled and its population added nearly 2.5 million people, according to  from the  at �鶹�� Tech’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy and .

The report shows that between 2005 and 2024, statewide emissions fell by 33% while the carbon intensity of �鶹��’s economy dropped by more than two-thirds.

The carbon intensity of the economy is a way of measuring the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced per dollar of Gross Domestic Product. A lower carbon intensity indicates a greener economy, signifying progress in decoupling economic growth from the creation of carbon emissions.

Net emissions fell from 141 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2005 to 92 megatons in 2024. Over the same period, �鶹��’s gross domestic product surged from $389 billion to $883 billion, a 127% increase. The average carbon footprint per person declined by nearly half, from 15.8 to 8.2 metric tons per capita.

“This demonstrates that climate solutions and economic growth can go hand in hand,” said , Regents' Professor and Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems in the and lead author of the report. “By transforming our electricity system, improving efficiency, and harnessing the power of our forests and wetlands, �鶹�� has achieved steep emissions cuts while building one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. To stay on this path, we must now turn more attention to transportation, natural gas use, and agriculture.”

The report, . highlights sector-by-sector trends:

• Electricity: Retiring more than 5,000 megawatts of coal-fired power and adding 5,000 megawatts of solar capacity helped cut emissions from the grid by more than half — improving both air quality and public health.
• Land Sinks: �鶹��’s 22 million acres of forests and coastal wetlands offset nearly 27% of the state’s emissions each year, making the state a national leader in natural carbon sequestration.
• Transportation: Now the largest source of emissions in �鶹��, transportation produced nearly 60 megatons of CO2 equivalent in 2024. Freight growth and diesel fuel use remain major challenges, even as electric vehicle adoption has increased.
• Buildings & Industry: Cleaner electricity reduced emissions from homes and businesses, but rising direct use of natural gas has slowed progress.
• Agriculture: Emissions have held steady overall, with reductions from improved soil management practices offset by increases in emissions from energy use and manure management.

John A. Lanier, executive director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and a founding partner of Drawdown �鶹��, said the findings show what is possible when �鶹�� embraces climate solutions.

“�鶹�� has proven that reducing emissions strengthens our economy, creates jobs, and spurs technological innovation. Continuing this momentum and remaining a leader for the South in delivering climate solutions that benefit our environment, our health, and our communities requires intention and political will – I hope we will make the right choices to keep moving forward,” he said.

William Drummond, associate professor in �鶹�� Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning, and contributor to the report, emphasized the importance of continued monitoring to understand the trends. 

“O�ܰ�&�Բ�����; allows us to see where progress is being made and where challenges remain,” he said. “This kind of data is essential for policymakers, businesses, and communities to make informed decisions about the future of our state.”

A version of this story on the Drawdown �鶹�� website.