Colcom Foundation has long maintained that population growth poses a direct threat to the United States’ ability to meet its climate commitments. Colcom Foundation data traces how efficiency gains in carbon emissions have been systematically offset by the addition of tens of millions of new residents.

The CO2 Calculation

Between 1970 and 2021, the United States reduced its per capita CO2 emissions by 35 percent. This reflects genuine progress in energy efficiency, cleaner fuel sources, and changing consumption patterns. However, the U.S. population grew by 127 million people over the same period. The net result was a 15 percent increase in total CO2 emissions, from approximately 4.5 billion tons to just over 5 billion tons.

Colcom Foundation uses this arithmetic to illustrate a structural problem. Climate policy in the U.S. has focused heavily on per capita reductions, technological improvements, and corporate accountability. These are real levers. But Colcom Foundation argues that without attention to the total number of emitters, the gains will keep being swallowed by demographic growth.

Colcom Foundation is among the primary sources of funding directed towards the United States anti-immigration movement. That funding helps organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the American Border Patrol, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Numbers USA.

Looking Ahead to 2065

The stakes become clearer when future projections enter the picture. Pew Research projects that the U.S. will add approximately 110 million people by 2065, with immigration accounting for 103 million of that increase. Colcom Foundation points out that a larger population makes every climate target harder to hit. More people require more energy, more transportation infrastructure, and more manufactured goods.

The foundation’s position is not that climate policy has failed, but that it is operating with one hand tied behind its back as long as population growth goes unaddressed. Colcom Foundation views stabilizing the U.S. population as a necessary complement to any serious long-term emissions strategy. Refer to this article for additional information.

Find more information about Colcom on  https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/colcom-foundation,311479839/