April 15, 2015
EPA Publishes 20th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
its 20th Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks
today, showing a two percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions
in 2013 from 2012 levels, but a nine percent drop in emissions since
2005.
Total U.S. greenhouse emissions were 6,673 million metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent in 2013. By sector, power plants were the largest
source of emissions, accounting for 31 percent of total U.S. greenhouse
gas pollution. The transportation sector was the second largest source,
at 27 percent. Industry and manufacturing were the third largest source,
at 21 percent. The increase in total national greenhouse gas emissions
between 2012 and 2013 was due to increased energy consumption across all
sectors in the U.S. economy and greater use of coal for electricity
generation.
This year, EPA is publishing key data in a new, online Greenhouse Gas
Inventory Data Explorer tool, which allows users to view, graph and
download data by sector, year and greenhouse gas. EPA will be holding
an informational webinar on April 22 at 1 p.m. EST to demonstrate
the Data Explorer tool and its features, and provide a tutorial on
common searches.
Greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change, which threatens the
health and well-being of Americans and future generations through
decreased air quality; extremes in heat and other weather events;
increased incidence of food-, water-, and insect-borne diseases; and
other impacts. Comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions data are an
essential tool to help understand the primary sources of emissions and
identify cost-effective opportunities to reduce them.
Under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, EPA is taking steps to
address carbon pollution from the power and transportation sectors, and
to improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses and factories.
Current greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for cars and light
trucks and EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan will eliminate billions of
tons of greenhouse gas pollution, save lives through air quality
benefits and save Americans money at the pump.
The agency prepares the inventory annually in collaboration with other
federal agencies and submits the report to the Secretariat of the United
National Framework Convention on Climate Change every year on April
15. The inventory presents historical emissions since 1990 and
covers seven key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and
nitrogen trifluoride. In addition to tracking U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions, the inventory also calculates carbon dioxide that is
removed from the atmosphere through the uptake of carbon in forests and
other vegetation. EPA has been publishing the inventory since 1994, but
tracks back to 1990.
More on the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/usinventoryreport.html
View and sort the data in EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/inventoryexplorer/
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