It appears that the US is gradually winning its battle against greenhouse gas emissions after the US Energy Information Administration reported that there were 6,576million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent in 2009 – that’s a 5.8 per cent fall compared to the 2008 level.
The fall is a significant breakthrough after US greenhouse gas emissions grew at an average annual rate of 0.4 per cent since 1990.
During 2009, total greenhouse gas emissions consisted of 5,446.8million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which made up 82.8 per cent of the total emissions. Other emissions included: methane, 11.1 per cent of the total; nitrous oxide, 3.3 per cent; and hydroflurocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, 2.7 per cent of the total.
Emissions of energy related carbon dioxide actually decreased by 7.1 per cent during 2009 – that’s despite increasing at an average annual rate of 0.8 per cent from 1990 to 2008.
The transportation sector was the second largest source of CO2 emissions at 34 per cent; behind the electric power sector at 40 per cent. Petrol combustion is the largest source of CO2 in the sector but increases in ethanol fuel in recent years have mitigated the growth in transport sector emissions.
