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U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON DC 20585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 31, 2003

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Grow Much Slower than Economy in 2002

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased by 0.5 percent in 2002, from 6,829 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent 1 (MMTCO2e) in 2001 to 6,862 MMTCO2e in 2002, according to Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2002, a report released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

The 2002 increase of 0.5 percent is well below the rate of economic growth of 2.4 percent and below the average annual growth rate in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 of 0.9 percent.  Total carbon dioxide emissions grew by 0.8 percent (less than the 1.2 percent average from 1990 to 2002) while emissions of methane and nitrous oxide decreased.

  • While both economic growth and warmer than normal summer weather put upward pressure on energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, a reduction in manufacturing output and related emissions, and a drop in power generation carbon intensity kept energy-related carbon dioxide growth at 0.7 percent.  Since 1990, energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide have risen by 16 percent.
  • Methane emissions fell by 2.7 percent from 630 MMTCO2e to 613 MMTCO2e due largely to declines in methane emissions from coal and oil production and from waste management.  Since 1990, methane emissions have declined by 15 percent.
  • Nitrous oxide emissions decreased by 1.1 percent because of a decline in emissions from agricultural sources.  Since 1990 nitrous oxide emissions have fallen by 0.2 percent.
  • Emissions from three classes of engineered gases - hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - increased by 6.2 percent from 114 MMTCO2e in 2001 to 121 MMTCO2e in 2002.  Because these gases constitute 1.8 percent of the total, their impact on the total is minimal.  These gases have grown by 25 percent since 1990.
  • In 1990, land use change and forestry practices offset 17 percent of U.S. anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.  In 2001 (the last year of available data) that offset declined to 12 percent.

As indicated in the table below, the greenhouse gas intensity of the U.S. economy fell by 2.1 percent from 2001 to 2002.  From 1990 to 2002, U.S. greenhouse gas intensity declined by 21.4 percent - an average of 2.0 percent per year.

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Unit of Gross Domestic Product
(Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide per Million Chain-weighted $1996)

Year

GHG Intensity

2001

747

2002

731

 The full report can be found on EIA's web site at:

 http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/index.html

The report described in this press release was prepared by the Energy Information Administration, the independent statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. The information contained in the report and the press release should be attributed to the Energy Information Administration and should not be construed as advocating or reflecting any policy position of the Department of Energy or any other organization.

 

[1] This year the EIA has adopted carbon dioxide equivalent as the unit of measure in accordance with international practices. To convert to carbon equivalent multiply by 12/44.

 

EIA Program Contacts: Perry Lindstrom, 202/586-0934; Paul McArdle, 202/586-4445

EIA Press Contact: National Energy Information Center, 202/586-8800                                         

EIA-2003-17

File Last Modified: October 31, 2003

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