CO2 Emissions per Capita: Puerto Rico

Analysis# Puerto Rico CO2 Emissions per Capita Puerto Rico's per capita CO2 emissions reached 4.817 metric tons in 2024, reflecting a dramatic 55.5% decline since 1970. The territory peaked at 15.169 metric tons in 1977 before entering a sustained downward trajectory. Although the 2024 figure sits well below the historical peak, it remains notably higher than the all-time low of 3.012 metric tons recorded in 2013, signaling a recent reversal in emissions reduction progress. A significant turning point occurred between 2013 and 2015, when emissions rose from their nadir by roughly 400 metric tons per capita. From 2015 onward, the upward trend has accelerated, with emissions climbing from 3.422 to 4.817 metric tons over nine years. This sustained increase suggests growing energy consumption or shifts in Puerto Rico's economic activity, positioning 2024 as a critical inflection point requiring policy attention to reverse the trajectory.