Researchers have found that U.S. carbon dioxide emissions rose almost three and a half percent last year after three years of decline.
According to a report by research firm Rhodium Group, the figure also marks the largest increase since 2010, when the economy was bouncing back from the global financial crisis.
Although a record amount of coal-fired power plants were shut last year, the uptick came from increased emissions from the energy and transport sectors.
Environmental experts suggest the world's second largest greenhouse gas emitter will not see figures drop in the future, especially with President Trump rolling back on existing environmental protections.
