05:51 AM EDT, 04/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions fell 3%, or 134 million metric tons, in 2023 with most of the decrease occurring in the electric power sector, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday.

Total U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions amounted to 4.81 billion metric tons last year, the lowest level since 2020, the EIA reported.

Electric power emissions fell 7.5% with the the reduction mostly due to a fall in coal-fired generation as the power sector used more natural gas and solar energy to produce electricity.

Energy-related CO2 emissions also fell in the residential and commercial sectors due to milder weather, which reduced energy demand for space heating and cooling in buildings.

Meanwhile, CO2 emissions from the industrial and transportation sectors were relatively unchanged from 2022 levels.