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U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON DC 20585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 13, 2004 

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue Moderate Growth

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased by 0.7 percent in 2003, from 6,891 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2002 to 6,936 MMTCO2e in 2003, according to Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2003, a report released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

The 2003 increase is well below the rate of economic growth of 3.0 percent and below the average annual growth rate of 1.0 percent in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.  Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane increased by 0.8 and 0.5 percent respectively, while emissions of nitrous oxide and engineered gases fell by 0.9 and 0.3 percent respectively.

  • Emissions of carbon dioxide from energy consumption and industrial processes grew by 0.8 percent from 5,825 million metric tons in 2002 to 5,870 million metric tons in 2003. Since 1990, energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide have risen by 16.0 percent.
  • Methane emissions rose by 0.5 percent from 599 MMTCO2e to 602 MMTCO2e. Small increases in methane emissions from landfills and coal mines more than offset decreases in methane emissions from mobile sources and rice cultivation.  Since 1990, methane emissions have declined by 15 percent.
  • Nitrous oxide emissions decreased from 323 MMTCO2e in 2002 to 320 MMTCO2e in 2003 (0.9 percent) mainly because of declines in emissions from industrial sources and nitrogen fertilization of agricultural soils.  Since 1990, nitrous oxide emissions have fallen by 2.6 percent.
  • Emissions from three classes of engineered gases – hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) – decreased by 0.3 percent from 144 MMTCO2e in 2002 to 143 MMTCO2e in 2003.  These gases have grown by 62 percent since 1990, but most of that growth took place during the early and mid-1990s.
  • In 1990, land use change and forestry practices sequestered enough carbon dioxide to offset 19.2 percent of U.S. anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.  In 2002 (the last year of available data) that offset declined to 11.9 percent.
  • The greenhouse gas intensity of the U.S. economy, as measured by emissions per unit of economic output, fell by 2.3 percent from 2002 to 2003. 

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions per Unit of Gross Domestic Product

(Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per Million Chain-weighted year 2000 dollars)

Year

GHG Intensity

2002

684

2003

668

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

 http://www.eia.doe.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.


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

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

EIA-2004-13

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