EPA GHG draft inventory shows overall emissions rose 3.3% in 2010 from previous year; transport CO2 emissions up 1%
28 February 2012
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2010” draft report shows that in 2010, overall greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions increased by 3.3% from the previous year. This trend is attributed to an increase in energy consumption across all economic sectors, due to increasing energy demand associated with an expansion in the economy. There was also an increase in air conditioning use due to warmer summer weather during 2010.
Total emissions from GHGs were about 6,866 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. CO2 emissions in the transportation sector were about 1,736.5 million metric tons, up about 1% from 1,720.1 the year before. Overall, emissions have grown by 11% from 1990 to 2010. EPA is seeking public comment on the draft.
The Inventory is the United States’ official estimate of total national greenhouse gas emissions, and is developed annually to meet commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The draft report will be open for public comment for 30 days.
The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions nationally from 1990 to 2010. The gases covered by this inventory include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by “sinks,” e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation, and soils.
This annual report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with experts from other federal agencies. After responding to public comments, the U.S. government will submit the final inventory report to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC. This report will fulfill the annual requirement of the UNFCCC international treaty, ratified by the United States in 1992.
It is reasonable to have doubts about the accuracy of most self-reported emissions. Reality may be as much as 50+% higher.
A recent survey on personal exercise and eating behavior revealed that less than 5% were telling the truth. Most of us will tell or report what we should have done and NOT what we did. That is also true about the emissions reporting system. There are no ways to measure the year to year miss reporting. What looks like a 3% decrease may be a 3+% increase.
Posted by: HarveyD | 28 February 2012 at 08:46 AM
Actually Harvey, where transport CO2 emissions are concerned, it's very easy to get accuracy. CO2 emissions are directly linked to fuel sales. It is only in the refinery where things get questionable because they are making their own fuel and they can hide that is burnt to make what they sell.
Posted by: ai_vin | 28 February 2012 at 10:37 AM
Unless and until you employ double entry bookeeping, recording emissions and absorptions, these estimates are nothing but recording only a tiny portion of the so-called CO2 problem.
The mighty oak and the humble blade of grass don't and won't fill out their bureacratic forms listing their consumption or expiration of CO2. Nor will the ant and termite nor the lion or buffalo. The Volcanos and the Oceans won't and don't fill out their bureaucratic forms listing their CO2 emissions and absorptions, either.
It seems only some of Mankind will bow to the bureaucrats, and they might report some of the the 2-4% of the World CO2 annual flux, that is Mankinds total effect on annual CO2 fluxes,leavin 96-98% unreported.
How that provides any insight to atmospheric CO2 levels, is questionable.
What we do know, based on the extensive air sampling scientific measurement of S Tal et al, at Princeton university, is that North America doesn't emit any CO2 on Net, by its Flora, Fauna or Geologic phenomena, collectively.
So who in North America should give damn? Even whether or if, as seems increasingly unlikely, that trace amounts of CO2 have any other than benign biological effects.
Posted by: Stan Peterson | 28 February 2012 at 12:14 PM