State ranks high in carbon emissions

Georgia leaves a carbon footprint that rivals many nations around the globe, according to a new study by the environmental group Greenpeace.

Between 1960 and 2005, the state emitted more pollution from fossil fuel consumption than the individual emissions from 159 nations. Put another way, Georgia's emissions were more than the combined emissions of 86 nations.

Greenpeace used data from the World Resources Institute to reach its findings. The report reviews state-by-state carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion during a 45-year period and compares those emissions with 184 other countries. The U.S. far exceeds all other nations in cumulative emissions since 1960, accounting for nearly 26 percent of all the global warming pollution emitted in that period, the study said.