US GHG emissions up 0.6% on year in 2005, EIA says in new report

US GHG emissions up 0.6% on year in 2005, EIA says in new report

Washington (Platts)--14Nov2006

Total US greenhouse gas emissions were 7,147.2 million metric
tons carbon dioxide-equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2005, an increase of 0.6% from
2004, the Energy Information Administration said Tuesday in a new report,
"Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2005."
Since 1990, GHG emissions have grown at an average annual rate of 1%, the
agency said.
The report said US GHG emissions per unit of GDP, or "US GHG-intensity,"
fell from 664 metric tons per million dollars of GDP (in constant 2000
dollars) in 2004 to 647 MTCO2e/$Million GDP in 2005, a decline of 2.5%. Since
1990, the annual average decline in GHG-intensity has been 1.9%, the report
added.
EIA said total estimated US GHG emissions in 2005 consisted of 6,008.6
million metric tons of CO2, or 84.1% of total emissions, 611.9 MMTCO2e of
methane, or 8.6% of total emissions, 366.6 MMTCO2e of nitrous oxide, or 5.1%
of total emissions, and 160.2 MMTCO2e of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons
and sulfur hexafluoride, which combined accounted for 2.2% of total emissions.
The agency said the 2005 emissions increase is well below the economic
growth rate of 3.2% and below the average annual growth rate of 1% in
greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.
CO2 emissions from energy consumption and industrial processes, which
have risen at an average annual rate of 1.2% since 1990, grew by only 0.3% in
2005, EIA said in the report.
The agency attributed the slower growth in CO2 emissions from 2004 to
2005 mainly to higher energy prices that suppressed demand, low or negative
growth in several energy-intensive industries, and weather-related disruptions
in the energy infrastructure along the Gulf Coast that shut down both
petroleum and natural gas operations.
The report said methane emissions rose by 0.9%, while emissions of
nitrous oxide rose by 1.9%. Emissions of HFCs, PFCs, and SF6, which have high
heat-trapping capabilities, rose by 7.2%.

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