People’s Climate Solidarity March Minnesota, US. Photo: Flickr.com /FiboNacci Blue CC BY

CO2 makes up 81 per cent of US greenhouse gases

The website of the US EPA presents an inventory of GHG emissions for 1990 to 2016, but web pages containing detailed climate analysis were removed one year ago.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared an inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks since the early 1990s. The 2016 annual report provides a comprehensive account of total greenhouse gas emissions from all man-made sources in the United States. The gases covered by the inventory include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride.

The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by “sinks,” e.g., through the uptake of carbon and storage in forests, vegetation, and soils.

Key findings from the 1990–2016 US Inventory include:

In 2016, US greenhouse gas emissions totalled 6,511 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, or 5,795 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents after accounting for sequestration from the land sector.
Emissions decreased from 2015 to 2016 by 2.5 per cent (after accounting for sequestration from the land sector). This decrease was largely driven by a decrease in emissions from fossil fuel combustion, which was a result of multiple factors including substitution from coal to natural gas consumption in the electric power sector, and warmer winter conditions that reduced demand for heating fuel in the residential and commercial sectors.
Greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 (after accounting for sequestration from the land sector) were 12 percent below 2005 levels.

This information can still be found on the EPA website. But in April 2017 the EPA removed web pages providing information about climate change that had existed in some form for nearly two decades and under three presidents, the Washington Post reports. The pages explained the science of climate change and its effects, and described actions that individuals could take and that the agency itself was taking to work on the issue. Today, one year later, the agency’s climate pages are still down, and would-be visitors are redirected to a notice saying that “this page is being updated.” The reason for this is that the present US government does not regard global warming as man-made.

The Washington Post concludes that inside and outside the agency, scepticism is rising that the agency’s main climate web pages will ever go back online.

Compiled by Reinhold Pape

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-a...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/?p=51650&utm_term...

Overview of US greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. Source: US Environmental Protections Agency (2018). Inventory of US greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990-2016.

GHG emissionsUS

In this issue

EU ship sulphur directive scrutinized

Sulphur emissions from ships in northern Europe have come down significantly, resulting in health and environmental improvements in coastal regions and port cities.

Editorial: Everyone's right to clean air

Evidence of the health hazards posed by air pollutants is clear and unambiguous. Air pollution particularly affects vulnerable groups such as infants, children, the elderly and ...

Wind and solar can be integrated into the grid

There are strategies to manage variablity in electricity generation. A succesful example is Denmark, which somtimes produces more than half of its electricity from wind and solar.

Renewables are rolling out rapidly

Between 2005 and 2015 wind power grew fourfold and solar by a factor of 72 in the EU. But this growth is very unevenly spread in the EU and in wider Europe.

Limits to achieving “4 per 1000” target

Increasing carbon stocks in agricultural soils is promoted as a climate mitigation practice. Scientists show that the potential in Europe might be overestimated.

Savings threat to a more sustainable agriculture

Less funding for environmental measures and increased flexibility for member states are bleak, but likely expectations of a post-2020 Common Agriculural Policy (CAP).

Eating healthily and sustainably

Reducing meat and calories is a win-win for health and the environment. An optimised Low Lands diet is a Dutch concept to make the transition more culturally acceptable.

IMO adopts greenhouse gas strategy for shipping

While the EU pushed for emission cuts of 70–100 per cent by 2050, the final global agreement settled for a target of “at least 50 per cent”.

Diesels in low-emission zones?

More than 90 per cent of Euro 6 diesel cars on sale today don’t meet the EU emission limits on the road but are still exempt from low-emission zones or diesel bans.

CO2 makes up 81 per cent of US greenhouse gases

The website of the US EPA presents an inventory of GHG emissions for 1990 to 2016, but web pages containing detailed climate analysis were removed one year ago.

Germany still constructing new coal power stations

Several countries in Europe, among them Germany, have recently built or are planning to build new coal power stations. Some examples of such plants are presented here.

Average CO2 level exceeds 410 ppm for first time

Since 1990, there has been a 40 per cent increase in total radiative forcing – the warming effect on our climate due to long-lived greenhouse gases.

1.5°C target still within reach

Scenarios show that the 1.5°C target can be reached without BECCS, through a massive expansion of renewable energy, improved energy efficency and lifestyle changes.

New low-emission zones in Sweden

On 4 April, the Swedish government announced that from 1 January 2020 municipalities will be able to introduce three different kinds of low-emission zones.

Myths about carbon storage – the Sleipner case

The risk of leaks that are difficult to detect and the thorough investigations required to find suitable sites are factors that limit the potential to scale up ongoing CO₂ storage projects.

Norweigan CCS hype moves from power to industrial processes

The government is unlikely to foot the bill. There are faster, cheaper ways to cut such emissions.

CO2 makes up 81 per cent of US greenhouse gases

In this issue

EU ship sulphur directive scrutinized

Editorial: Everyone's right to clean air

Wind and solar can be integrated into the grid

Renewables are rolling out rapidly

Limits to achieving “4 per 1000” target

Savings threat to a more sustainable agriculture

Eating healthily and sustainably

IMO adopts greenhouse gas strategy for shipping

Diesels in low-emission zones?

CO2 makes up 81 per cent of US greenhouse gases

Germany still constructing new coal power stations

Average CO2 level exceeds 410 ppm for first time

1.5°C target still within reach

New low-emission zones in Sweden

Myths about carbon storage – the Sleipner case

Norweigan CCS hype moves from power to industrial processes

In Breif

Wind and solar cheaper than coal

EU subsidises most-polluting farms

Nitrogen still pollutes European waters

Consultation on 7th EAP

Consultation on Ambient Air Quality Directives

Subsidy-free offshore wind farm

World’s biggest insurer moves away from coal

IMO agrees global high-sulphur fuel ban

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

Do Your Bit!