Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas

Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas

Proof Point

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions reached 6.59 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2015, with carbon dioxide contributing 82% of total

Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas

1991 – 2015 (billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent)

Note: Report with 2015 figures expected to be released by May 2017

Proof Point Findings

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases) that enter and stay in atmosphere for specific periods of time as result of activities such as electricity production, transportation, industrial, commercial and residential energy consumption
  • U.S. GHG Emissions – Increased 0.3% annually between 1991 and 2015, from 6.31 billion to 6.59 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent
  • Emissions Mix – Carbon dioxide remained biggest emission contributor with 82% share of total in 2015, while fluorinated gases, which have higher global warming effect than other greenhouse gases, saw only increase from 2014, growing by almost 3%
  • Key Dependencies – Include changing energy consumption brought about by shifts in demographic and environmental factors (e.g. population growth, number of cars and houses, changing weather conditions), economic performance, and availability of more environmental-friendly alternatives, such as renewable energy sources and proliferation of electric vehicles

Accelerator

Sector

Cross-sector

Source

Date Last Updated

October 18, 2017

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