The Green Technocrat

I’ve been staring at a lot of GHG emissions data lately.  Is there anything more fun than pouring over table after table of UNFCCC national submissions, IEA reports and E.P.A. eGRID values?  OK, I guess I can think of a few things, but reviewing all this data has actually been pretty interesting.   One of the things I noticed, and that I view as a bit of progress, is the fact that our emissions rates for energy production have been steadily going down for the last few years.

In 2004 the average number of grams of CO2 produced per kWh of electricity generation was 572, in 2005 it was 570, and in 2006 it was down to 559 g CO2/kWh.  The trend extends beyond those last three years of data to about the last decade.  Slowly but surely we have been reducing our emissions rate.

But have we reduced our emissions?  Earlier today the new E.P.A. National Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks report was issued today.  I took a look at the report to see what I could find out about our newest set of emissions values.  Unfortunately, as I suspected, despite our improved emissions rates our increased demand for energy has continued to drive up our overall emissions.

According to the E.P.A report emissions in 2007 (the year with the most current available data), the United States total emissions increased 1.4% from 2006, and 17.2% from 1990.  And what’s to blame for this increase in emissions?  According to the report the biggest jump in emissions came from increased consumption of fuel and coal produced electricity.

Despite an increase in national awareness over the last couple of years, despite increased political pressure for change, all we are seeing is a rise in our output.  Can you say COLLAPSE anyone?

Via: E.P.A, Treehugger