EIA: US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions at lowest levels since 1994
US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions reached 5.3 billion tonnes in 2012—the nation’s lowest level since 1994, the US Energy Information Administration reported. Emissions have declined consecutively since 2007, with the exception of 2010.
The drop in CO2 emissions in 2012 was primarily attributable to the shift of electric power generation to natural gas from coal. During 2012, particularly in the spring and early summer, low natural gas prices led to competition between gas-fired and coal-fired electric power generators.
Decreased demand for transportation fuels and mild winter temperatures that reduced demand for heating also contributed to the lower CO2 emissions.
EIA will publish a full analysis of 2012 energy-related CO2 emissions later this year. The January-December 2012 preliminary was already published in the March edition of the Monthly Energy Review, which includes statistics covering all aspects of energy.
Contact Conglin Xu at [email protected].
Conglin Xu | Managing Editor-Economics
Conglin Xu, Managing Editor-Economics, covers worldwide oil and gas market developments and macroeconomic factors, conducts analytical economic and financial research, generates estimates and forecasts, and compiles production and reserves statistics for Oil & Gas Journal. She joined OGJ in 2012 as Senior Economics Editor.
Xu holds a PhD in International Economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She was a Short-term Consultant at the World Bank and Summer Intern at the International Monetary Fund.