CO2 emissions from the United States have increased for two consecutive years

According to the monthly Energy Review (Monthly Energy Review) issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on April 20, 2015, energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States have increased for two consecutive years. However, unlike 2013 CO2 emissions and gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2.5 per cent and 2.2 per cent respectively, CO2 emissions grew by only 0.7 per cent in 2014, much lower than the 2.4 per cent GDP growth rate in 2014 (figure 1).

Figure 1 interannual variation of energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States

Energy-related CO2 emissions account for the largest proportion of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. On March 31, 2015, the United States formally submitted its National Independent contribution Plan (INDC) to the United Nations, promising to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% at 2005 levels by 2025. This is in line with President Obama's pledge in 2009 to reduce U. S. greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020.

The changes in CO2 emissions reflect the changes in human economy and energy-related indicators. 2012 and 2013 largely followed the economic trend of increased population and per capita GDP, but broke the downward trend in energy intensity and carbon intensity:

(1) from 2005 to 2014, the population of the United States grew at an average annual rate of 0.7 percent, and the GDP of the United States has grown by 1.4 percent annually since 2005. The growth rates of population and GDP are basically in line with these trends in 2012 and 2013.

(2) the energy consumption per unit of GDP or the energy intensity of the US economy has generally increased over the past decade, and less energy is needed for economic growth. In 2013, energy intensity in the United States increased slightly by 0.7%, mainly due to weather-related energy consumption, but energy intensity fell by 1.2% in 2014.

(3) CO2 emissions from carbon intensity or per unit energy consumption fell by 8 per cent overall between 2005 and 2014, with an average annual decline of 0.9 per cent. However, carbon intensity fell by only 0.4 per cent in 2013 and 2014.

CO2 emissions from energy-related sectors are expected to be about 5404 Mt in 2014 and will increase slightly in 2015 and 2016. Future energy consumption and related emissions levels depend largely on weather, energy and economic factors, as well as changes in national and state policies.

(cover picture by John Giles)

from 2005 to 2014, the population of the United States grew at an average annual rate of 0.7 percent, and the GDP of the United States has grown by 1.4 percent annually since 2005. The growth rates of population and GDP are basically in line with these trends in 2012 and 2013.

Figure 1 interannual variation of energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States

Energy-related CO2 emissions account for the largest proportion of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. On March 31, 2015, the United States formally submitted its National Independent contribution Plan (INDC) to the United Nations, promising to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% at 2005 levels by 2025. This is in line with President Obama's pledge in 2009 to reduce U. S. greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020.

Figure 1 interannual variation of energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States

Energy-related CO2 emissions account for the largest proportion of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. On March 31, 2015, the United States formally submitted its National Independent contribution Plan (INDC) to the United Nations, promising to reduc