I'm having trouble squaring this data showing US emissions going down with the ever increasing consumption I see all around me in everyday life. I just don't buy it at face value.
>I'm having trouble squaring this data showing US emissions going down with the ever increasing consumption I see all around me in everyday life.
You're assuming that individual consumption is the primary source of emissions, instead of relatively invisible-to-the-consumer industrial processes. Which is understandable, because BP, Exxon etc have all poured billions of dollars into creating that misconception, into convincing everyone that to solve climate change, the average consumer must research how much coal was burned to produce that Twix before they buy it.
In practice, the carbon emissions of any particular good can vary wildly, and are quite opaque (by design, as no corporation wants to advertise their shortcomings in support of a "buy less stuff!" movement).
Transportation is 28%, and industry is 23%. US in fact drives larger cars like SUV and cars with worse fuel efficiency. This is directly reflected in higher per capita emission of US compared to Europe.
Your opinion and observations are not facts. Either global warming is real because the data shows it or you are ignoring the data with your own bias. Pick one.
