Recent Trends in U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks

In 2003, total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 6,898.7 Tg CO2 Eq.9

Overall, total U.S. emissions have risen by 13.3 percent from 1990 to 2003, while the U.S. gross domestic product has increased by 46 percent over the same period (BEA 2004). Emissions rose slightly from 2002 to 2003, increasing by 0.6 percent (42.7 Tg CO2 Eq.).

The following factors were primary contributors to this increase: 1) moderate economic growth in 2003, leading to increased demand for electricity and fossil fuels, 2) increased natural gas prices, causing some electric power producers to switch to burning coal, and 3) a colder winter, which caused an increase in the use of heating fuels, primarily in the residential end-use sector.

 

excerpted from EPA 2005 Draft

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