April 15

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased by 1.4% in 2007 compared with the previous year, according to the U.S. EPA´s latest national greenhouse gas inventory.

The report, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007, is the latest annual report that the United States has submitted to the United Nations´ secretariat in charge of addressing climate change.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2007 were equivalent to 7.15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. The gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The report indicates that overall emissions have grown by 17.2% from 1990 to 2007.

The increase in emissions in 2007 was due primarily to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption, according to the EPA. Cooler winter and warmer summer conditions in 2007 were part of the reason for the increase, along with increased consumption of fossil fuels to generate electricity and a significant decrease in hydropower generation, according to the agency.

Details about the greenhouse gas inventory report are available at http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html.

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at 330-865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com

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