The United States and 20 other nations have demonstrated in recent years that a country can grow its economy even while cutting greenhouse gas emissions, according to analysis from the World Resources Institute. From 2000-2014, U.S. emissions dropped 6 percent while the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 28 percent.
Other countries that have successfully decoupled GDP from emissions include Denmark, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan. “There is not a single formula, policy or demographic trend that’s driven GDP-GHG decoupling across all countries. Sweden, for example, implemented ambitious policies including carbon taxes that supported its decoupling. Denmark’s rapid increase in renewable energy reduced emissions while stimulating local production,” according to WRI.
