Carbon emissions in US drop to lowest level since 1994
Carbon dioxide emissions in the US in 2012 were at their lowest levels since 1994, according to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance for the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
The American Electric Power Company's cooling tower at their coal-burning Mountaineer plant is shown in New Haven, W.Va. Under Obama’s guidance the US is shifting its energy sector away from high carbon fossil fuels to lower carbon fuels, alternatives, and renewable energy sources, Kennedy writes.
Ayesha Rascoe/Reuters/File
A new report, written by Bloomberg New Energy Finance for the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), has shown that carbon dioxide emissions in the US in 2012 were at their lowest levels since 1994.
Carbon emission levels have fallen by 13% since 2007, and a total of 10.7% since 2005. This means that the US is now more than half way to achieving President Obama’s goal of cutting emissions by 17% from 2005 levels before 2020.
This news works to support Obama and his environmental and renewable energy position, a stance that he has received criticism for over the years. It will also boost the credentials of the US in international global climate negotiations. (Related article: The Trade-off between Aerosols and Greenhouse Gases)
Under Obama’s guidance the US is shifting its energy sector away from high carbon fossil fuels to lower carbon fuels, alternatives, and renewable energy sources. Oil consumption has fallen in recent years, and coal accounted for only 18.1% of the US’s energy mix last year, compared to 22.5% in 2007; renewable energies saw the largest growth.
Over all energy use in the US has fallen 6.4% since 2007 and this has mostly been accredited to more efficient heating and cooling systems in commercial buildings.