EIA reports US CO2 emissions increased 3.1% in 2000

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, Nov. 9 -- The US Energy Information Administration said Friday the nation's estimated carbon dioxide emissions grew 3.1% in 2000.

The CO₂ emissions, which were 83% of all US greenhouse gas emissions, rose from 1,536 million tonnes of carbon equivalent (MMTCe) in 1999 to 1,583 MMTCe in 2000, according to an EIA report.

The 3.1% growth was one percentage point below the 4.1% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Energy-related CO₂ emissions, which account for 98% of total CO₂ emissions, were 1,547 MMTCe, while other sources accounted for the remaining 36 MMTCe.

EIA said the 3.1% growth in emissions in 2000 is the second highest growth rate for the 1990 to 2000 period, with only the 3.4% growth rate in 1996 being higher, and is well above the average growth rate of 1.6% for the 1990 to 2000 time frame. The high growth in CO₂ emissions can be attributed to a return to more normal weather, decreased hydroelectric power generation that was replaced by fossil-fuel power generation, and strong economic growth demonstrated by the increase in GDP.

US greenhouse gas emissions rose by 2.5% from 1999 to 1,906 MMTCe in 2000. The 2000 growth rate was well above the average growth rate of 1.3%/year from 1990 to 2000

Total estimated US greenhouse gas emissions in 2000 consisted of 1,583 MMTCe of CO₂ (83% of total emissions), 177 MMTCe of methane (9%), 99 MMTCe of nitrous oxide (5%), and 47 MMTCe of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorcarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride (2% of total emissions).

EIA said estimated methane emissions, the second largest contributor after CO₂ to total greenhouse emissions, declined by 1.6% to 177 MMTCe in 2000. Since 1990, US methane emissions have declined by about 11%.

It said transportation-related CO₂ emissions, which are a third of the total CO₂ emissions from energy consumption, increased by 3.1% to 515 MMTCe in 2000, as a healthy economy encouraged travel and the delivery of goods.

Residential CO₂ emissions increased by 4.9% to 313 MMTCe, while emissions in the commercial sector rose by 5.8% to 268 MMTCe in 2000. This growth was driven by a return to more normal weather, higher fossil-fueled power generation, and a strong economy.

EIA said despite rapid growth of the economy, energy-related industrial CO₂ emissions in 2000 remained flat at 466 MMTCe. It said that was due in part to slower growth in the energy-intensive industries compared with the non-energy-intensive industries and possible efficiency improvements.

CO₂ emissions from the US electric power sector in 2000, which are included in the sectoral totals above, are estimated at 642 MMTCe, 4.7% higher than the 1999 level. That increase is almost double the 1990-2000 average increase of 2.4% per year.

Contributing to the relatively large increase in 2000 was a 4.2% increase in fossil fuel use for electricity generation, as well as an 11% reduction in electricity generation from renewable fuels, including a 14% drop in hydroelectric generation.