The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its 30th annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory). It shows net U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 5586 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021, a 6% increase in emissions from 2020. EPA said the increase in planet killing gases is “largely due to a rebound in economic activity following the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.” (autoinformed.com on: US Recovering from Covid. Greenhouse Gasses a Problem; President Biden at COP 27 Pledges US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis)
EPA also claimed that emissions have declined overall since 2005 (17%), which in its view reflects the combined impacts of several factors, including energy market trends, technological changes including energy efficiency improvements, and the carbon intensity of energy fuel choices. In this latest release, EPA has made several changes, including updates to estimates for oil and gas and for flooded lands such as hydroelectric and agricultural reservoirs.
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“For 30 years EPA has worked with researchers, federal partners, and stakeholders to produce a detailed and complete inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks,” said Joseph Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “This work reflects our commitment to transparency, data quality, and timeliness as we meet our inventory obligations under the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change.”
Well, yes, but it begs the question what is US regulatory policy doing about reducing the CO2 created by burning fossil fuels that is at the core of US economic activity? This comes as tomorrow 14 April is the first Ozone Action day of the year for Southeast Michigan. There will be many more. In its air quality advisory, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) noted that pollutants are expected to be in a range that is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The EPA GHG Inventory covers seven key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. In addition to tracking U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, the Inventory also calculates carbon dioxide that is removed from the atmosphere through the uptake of carbon in forests and other vegetation.
The report has been compiled annually since 1993 and submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with numerous experts from other federal agencies, state government authorities, research and academic institutions, and industry associations. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), national inventories for UNFCCC Annex I parties should be provided to the UNFCCC Secretariat each year by April 15.
EPA runs an annual public review and comment process for this document. The document was made available on the EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions website and announced via Federal Register Notice for 30 days. Comments received after the closure of the public comment period are accepted and considered for the next edition of this annual report. Public review of this year’s report occurred from 15 February through 17 March 2023. Comments received are posted to the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0001. Responses to comments will be posted to EPA’s website within 2-4 weeks following publication of this report.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
US EPA – 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Up
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its 30th annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory). It shows net U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 5586 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021, a 6% increase in emissions from 2020. EPA said the increase in planet killing gases is “largely due to a rebound in economic activity following the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.” (autoinformed.com on: US Recovering from Covid. Greenhouse Gasses a Problem; President Biden at COP 27 Pledges US Leadership on Solving the Climate Crisis)
EPA also claimed that emissions have declined overall since 2005 (17%), which in its view reflects the combined impacts of several factors, including energy market trends, technological changes including energy efficiency improvements, and the carbon intensity of energy fuel choices. In this latest release, EPA has made several changes, including updates to estimates for oil and gas and for flooded lands such as hydroelectric and agricultural reservoirs.
Click for more information.
“For 30 years EPA has worked with researchers, federal partners, and stakeholders to produce a detailed and complete inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks,” said Joseph Goffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “This work reflects our commitment to transparency, data quality, and timeliness as we meet our inventory obligations under the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change.”
Well, yes, but it begs the question what is US regulatory policy doing about reducing the CO2 created by burning fossil fuels that is at the core of US economic activity? This comes as tomorrow 14 April is the first Ozone Action day of the year for Southeast Michigan. There will be many more. In its air quality advisory, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) noted that pollutants are expected to be in a range that is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The EPA GHG Inventory covers seven key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. In addition to tracking U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, the Inventory also calculates carbon dioxide that is removed from the atmosphere through the uptake of carbon in forests and other vegetation.
The report has been compiled annually since 1993 and submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with numerous experts from other federal agencies, state government authorities, research and academic institutions, and industry associations. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), national inventories for UNFCCC Annex I parties should be provided to the UNFCCC Secretariat each year by April 15.
EPA runs an annual public review and comment process for this document. The document was made available on the EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions website and announced via Federal Register Notice for 30 days. Comments received after the closure of the public comment period are accepted and considered for the next edition of this annual report. Public review of this year’s report occurred from 15 February through 17 March 2023. Comments received are posted to the docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0001. Responses to comments will be posted to EPA’s website within 2-4 weeks following publication of this report.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.