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US Annual CO₂ Emissions vs US Median Age

US Annual CO₂ Emissions and US Median Age correlate at r = +0.72 over 74 years (1950–2023), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.42. Direction flips without the trend.

Verdict: Direction flips without the trend. The raw correlation is 0.72, but once each series' time trend is removed it becomes -0.42. The year-to-year movements run the opposite way to the long-run trends, so the headline number is misleading.

Pearson r
+0.72
p-value
< 0.0001
Years compared (n)
74 (1950–2023)
95% confidence interval
0.59 to 0.81
Correlation with the time trend removed
-0.42

Sources

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Correlation does not imply causation. How the verdict is worked out.