Incorporating GS in the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

In 1992, the United States ratified an international environmental treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , which aims to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Under the UNFCCC, the United States has committed to “… Develop, periodically update, publish and make available…national inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol …” To meet its commitment, EPA prepares an annual national inventory of sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Developing this inventory involves coordination with several federal agencies, trade associations, universities, and technical experts. The most recent inventory report is available.

EPA prepares the national inventory in accordance with guidelines issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) , an organization established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme in 1988 to assess the scientific, technical, and socio-economic implications of human-induced climate change. The most recent IPCC inventory guidelines (PDF) (32 pp., 652 kb, About PDF), which were published in 2006, included transport, injection, and geologic sequestration (GS) of CO2 as sources of greenhouse gas emissions for the first time.

EPA is currently evaluating how to implement the guidelines (PDF) (14pp., 326 KB, About PDF) and accurately account for emissions associated with transport, injection, and storage of CO2.

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Incorporating GS in the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

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