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US GHG Inventory Shows 1.1% Decline in 2006
16 April 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, which finds that overall emissions during 2006 decreased by 1.1% from the previous year. The draft version of the inventory, published in March, had shown a 1.5% decline from 2005. (Earlier post.)
Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2006 were equivalent to 7,054.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The report indicates that overall emissions have grown by 14.7% from 1990 to 2006, while the US economy has grown by 59% over the same period.
The decrease in emissions in 2006 was due primarily to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption. The following factors were primary contributors to this decrease:
Compared to 2005, 2006 had warmer winter conditions, which decreased consumption of heating fuels, as well as cooler summer conditions, which reduced demand for electricity;
Restraint on fuel consumption caused by rising fuel prices, primarily in the transportation sector; and
Increased use of natural gas and renewables in the electric power sector.
Emissions from the transportation sector declined 0.72% from the year prior, to 1,861.0 Tg CO2 Eq. Transportation is the largest end-use sector producer of greenhouse gas emissions (33%) and represents 20.35% of all greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion produced in the US.
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We should not tie GHG to economic growth because it is easy to transfer dirty manufacturing industries out and retain cleaner service industries. That's exactly what has been going on in the USA for the last 10+ years with their huge trade deficits.
GHG accounting should be global and should include all the GHG created to produce and transport imported goods and services. Otherwise, local/national GHG becomes less and less meaningful.
Posted by: Harvey D | Apr 16, 2008 8:46:18 AM
Why does EPA refuse to include the most significant GHG the 70% of all atmospheric GHG - water vapor? Does EPA think they will be taken seriously if they leave out the highest volume GHG??
And if we do not address the issue by nation - why bother with cap and trade schemes?
Posted by: Another Jerk | Apr 16, 2008 11:53:37 AM
Harvey:
I don't see how you can use a global model since we cannot control the emissions that are not inside our own borders. The fact is that we as a society still need to manufacture goods. If you want to try and add a CO2 Tariff of some kind, I suggest you read up on the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930, and similar protectionist acts in the 1880s. The results of such tariffs have always been profoundly negative on the economy.
Posted by: Cervus | Apr 16, 2008 7:11:04 PM
See, it's possible to reduce GHG here in the US. Sure, the weather made it easier, and offshoring of industry is a valid point, but our government didn't really try all that hard. This demonstrates that with a concerted effort meaningful gains can be made.
Posted by: Justin VP | Apr 17, 2008 9:52:24 AM
