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  4. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Will Not Return to 2008 Levels Until 2019

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Will Not Return to 2008 Levels Until 2019

Date: December 14, 2009

Source: News Room

Greenhouse gas emissions from the US energy sector have fallen and are not expected to reach 2008 levels again until 2019 according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Energy-related sources currently account for about 85 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. EIA projects only 0.3 percent average annual growth without any change in US policies. That translates into only 8.7 percent increase in emissions from 2008 to 2035. The emissions deficit figures will likely loom large in Capitol Hill debates over curbs to greenhouse gas emissions. A previous EIA report said emissions had fallen 9 percent in the past two years, 3 percent in 2008 and an estimated 6 percent in 2009, which is almost half of that which is targeted by proposed climate change legislation.

The House-passed climate bill, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee bill, and a framework unveiled by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) all rely on 2005 emission levels as a base to cut emission levels. But 2005 U.S. emission levels are well above current emission levels and levels in the short term, according to EIA.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the report reinforces support for higher targets. The EPW Committee bill sets a target cutting greenhouse gas levels of 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020; the House and the Kerry-Lieberman-Graham framework set it at 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

A copy of the report is here: ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oiaf/1605/cdrom/pdf/ggrpt/057308.pdf.

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