The major greenhouse gases emitted by the United States as a result of human activity, and their percentage share of U.S. total gross greenhouse gas emissions of 5,981.4 million metric tons in 2020 were:1
There are other greenhouse gases that are not counted in United States or international greenhouse gas inventories:
Greenhouse gases are transparent to incoming (short-wave) radiation from the sun but block infrared (long-wave) radiation from leaving the earth's atmosphere. This greenhouse effect traps radiation from the sun and warms the planet's surface. As concentrations of these gases increase, more warming occurs than would happen naturally.
1 Based on global warming potential.
Data source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020, Executive Summary, April 2022
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Energy and the Environment—Greenhouse Gases
Most recent monthly and annual estimates for U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption
Last updated: June 10, 2022