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U.S. carbon dioxide emissions reach record high in 2007 mongabay.com May 21, 2008
Total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels reached 5,984 million metric tons, up from 5,888 million metric tons in 2006. EIA data showed an increase in emissions from natural gas and coal in 2007, but a drop in emissions from the use of oil. U.S. CO2 emissions are now 19.4 percent above 1990 levels.
In a hopeful sign, energy CO2 intensity (carbon dioxide emissions per unit of economic output) fell by about 0.5 percent as the economy expanded by 2.2 percent but emissions grew only 1.6 percent. Between 1990 and 2006, total greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP declined by 27.7 percent. Despite the gains in carbon intensity, power generation became less efficient in 2007 due to a decline in the proportion of energy generated from hydroelectric dams. Drier-than-normal conditions meant that power companies had to make up the shortfall by burning more natural gas and goal. Overall emissions from the power sector rose 3 percent, while electricity generation rose 2.5 percent. The U.S. is the world's second largest emitter of carbon dioxide after China. CO2 emissions from China surpassed those of the U.S. in 2006. News index | RSS | News Feed Advertisements: Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing |
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