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Record Decline in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 200803-29-10 | News

Record Decline in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2008

The 2009 decline will likely be even steeper: The federal Energy Information Administration reported that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, the major driver of American greenhouse gas emissions, fell more than 6 percent from
2008 to 2009.

High gasoline prices, a slow economy and ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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In many ways, the decline is intuitive. Gas prices soared in 2008. Americans drove less. Summer was cooler than in 2007, reducing air-conditioning demand and more than making up for increased heating costs that came from a cold winter. The economy slowed, reducing demand for electricity (read: coal) to power factories and businesses.

Even when gas prices fell a bit last year, cash-strapped Americans stuck largely to their reduced driving habits. Meanwhile, the economy ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Still, annual U.S. emissions remain 14 percent higher than they were in 1990, the EPA reports. When economic growth picks up again, the Energy Information Administration forecasts, emissions will grow again too. (With the major caveat that President Obama is pushing Congress to limit emissions and that the EPA has signaled it will regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act if Congress doesn?EUR??,,????'?????<